Emmanuel Donkor, the "stone" which the builders rejected has become the "corner stone".
After scoring two of the five goals mauling of Suhum Maxbees last Sunday, Donkor netted a hat trick, as defending league champions Hearts of Oaks, chalked out a 4-2 victory over Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals in their outstanding first round Star Premier League match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Donkor was one of the few players Hearts put on the transfer list at the start of the league season, but could not secure a good contract after a deal to loan him to city rivals, Great Olympics, failed.
But little did the Hearts management know that the player's continued stay with the club could be a blessing in disguise. Liberty unsettled Hearts with a first minute goal. They benefited from a dubious free kick awarded by Saltpond-based class one referee Buckman Yanney which was perfectly converted by Albert Neequaye.
Surprisingly, after that early shocker, Liberty recoiled into their shelves and allowed Hearts to dictate the pace. Hearts came close to redeeming the deficit but were denied by goalkeeper Cudjoe Addo while Ishmael Addo fumbled in the fourth and seventh minutes before an empty post.
Liberty were reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute after Francis Obeng picked a second yellow card. Ishmael Addo leveled for Hearts from an incisive pass by Edmund Copson in the 29th minute only for Liberty's Papa Arko to increase the tally against the run of play in the 33rd minute.
Coach Jones Attuquayefio brought on Awuley Quaye junior and Emmanuel Donkor for Charles Alottey and Don Bortey while Yaw Berkoe replaced outstanding goalie Cudjoe Addo for Liberty after he had pulled his muscles in the first quarter of the second half.
Donkor scored the remaining three goals in the 66th, 72nd, and 82nd minutes from a beautiful combination with Awuley Quaye and Charles Taylor. Hearts are still second on the 16-club league table on 33 points, two less than archrivals Kotoko with two matches on hand against Real Tamale United and Sekondi Hasaacas while Kotoko have one against Adansiman.
