League Report of Sunday, 21 January 2007

Source: GNA

Ashgold Pip Kotoko

Obuasi Ashgold avenged the lone goal defeat suffered at the hands of visiting Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the first round of the Onetouh Premier League when they pipped the 'Porcupine Warriors' in their 19th Week league match at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium on Sunday.

Ashgold have by the victory jumped to the second position of the league table with 33 points, just a point separating them from leaders, Accra Hearts of Oak who drew in the match against Tano Bofoakwa.

Kotoko have thus worsened their plight with the defeat after experiencing series of unpleasant results in the league in recent times. After more than an hour of an action-packed game, it was the Miners who managed to score the only goal of the day in the 87th minute through their youngster Opoku Agyeman.

Agyeman's goal came through the individual efforts of Shaibu Yakubu who fell deep into midfield and raced into the Kotoko defence area and rounded up two defenders before crossing the ball to Agyeman who made no mistake by lobbing the ball over keeper Isaac Amoako.

But for the extra defensive work by newly signed on player Isaac Vorsah and experienced Dan Acquah, Agyeman who was a thorn in the flesh of the Kotoko defence would have scored more than two goals for his side.

The nimble-footed striker was earlier brought down by Vorsah in the 51st minute in the penalty box only for referee Samuel Gyasi of Suhum to ignore and wave play on.

The striker was again presented with a golden opportunity ten minutes later but he failed to convert the chance as he allowed Acquah to come to the rescue of his side.

Kotoko who played a determined game in an effort to save their sinking image, also had many scoring chances but the strikers could not convert them with the best chance falling on the path of John Cudjoe in the 35th minute only for the striker to shoot feebly into the hands of keeper Fatau Dauda.