League Report of Sunday, 24 December 2006

Source: GNA

Liberty Beat Berekum Arsenals

Liberty Professionals managed a hard fought one-nil victory over visiting Berekum Arsenals at the Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park in their Onetouch Premier League encounter on Sunday.

It was the visitors who kicked off in the poorly attended game but soon lost the ball to Liberty who stringed their passes with ever-busy Michael Helegbe marshaling the attack but ever elaboration denied them of an early goal.

Arsenal gradually warmed themselves into the game but Bawa Mumuni and his colleagues at the rear managed to thwart many of the attempts initiated by the visitors.

The game became a ding-dong affair with nothing to cheer about as the two teams failed to put any urgency into their game plan with occasional attempts at goal.

As the game progressed, Liberty lifted up their game and kept the pressure on their opponents but lacked the necessary punch to find the opener with Kofi Boakye, Addai Owusu and Tuah Khemid failing to string their passes together.

In the 43rd minute, Arsenal earned a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box but Francis Aggrey shot off target to the relief of the home side.

Liberty resumed the second half full of determination and put the pressure on their opponents but again on numerous occasions they failed to beat the over-confident defencemen of Arsenals as they easily handled the situation.

The home side continued with the pressure in the goal area of Arsenal amidst cheers from their few vociferous fans and around that period, Helegbe gave a neat pass to Addai Owusu whose one touch shot was parried by keeper Ransford Kudjo to unmarked Richard Kissi who made no mistake by shooting into the far corner of the posts to register the only goal of the match in the 67th minute.

The goal seemed to ginger up the visitors but they were unfortunate to miss two chances that came their way in the dying minutes of the game when Francis Aggrey and Yaw Antwi failed to connect home as they fumbled in front of goal.

Liberty's goal hero, Richard Kissi was adjudged man of the match.