Bofoakwa lick B.A United

Sunyani (B/A) Oct. 3 GNA - B.A. United on Sunday played a well-determined game only to slump to a 1-0 defeat to their local arch rivals, Bofoakwa Tano in their Group "A" Premier League match at the Sunyani Coronation Park. Bofoakwa snatched the winner during injury time through striker Osei Boateng whose shot zoomed through a forest of legs into the B.A United's net during a goalmouth scramble. The goal was very much against the run of play as United, who were playing their first home match since the commencement of the league.

They fielded "back-to-batan" siblings "Disco" Nana Gyamfi and Yaw Kyeremeh, formerly of Berekum Arsenals F/C who were more purposeful in the exchanges especially in the first half. United has not won a match in their Group and conscious that the outcome of the match would determine their fate in the League, they attacked from all angles right from the signal of Accra-based FIFA Referee Alex Kotei for the commencement of the match. They nearly found the net in the early minutes of the tension-packed encounter but defender Charles Ampiah's close-range shot missed the posts narrowly.


Left off the hook, Bofoakwa with Eric Ansah, Osei Boateng, Deedey Yahaya and Owusu Kwasi combining effectively in attack, they quickly took control of the game but the defense of United manned by Ampiah, Daniel Quao, Nana Gyamfi and Captain Alhaji Abass weathered the storm. The match degenerated into rough-house tactics but the referee Kotei chose to verbally caution offending players in the initial stages instead of flashing his cards to bring about sanity.


Charles Ampiah of United however tasted the referee's first yellow card in the 25th minute for rough play while goalkeeper Ransford Cudjoe of Bofoakwa was also shown a card for using his hand to intercept a ball outside his goal area. The referee in addition awarded a free kick against keeper Cudjoe but United wasted the kick.

Andrews Kwame of United also attracted a yellow card when he ignored a whistle for an infringement and shot the ball into the net. Both teams made substitutions in the second half but squandered several goal scoring chances until the injury time when Osei Boateng's feeble shot beat goalkeeper Quansah for the only goal of the match. Some of the players of United, apparently knowing what the defeat meant for the club broke down in tears soon after the final whistle went for the end of the match while their supporters stood dumbfounded.


Players and supporters of Bofoakwa on the other hand jubilated over their sweet victory and they left the Park on a procession through the main streets of Sunyani with taxi-drivers tooting their horns in support.


At the Golden City Park in Berekum, local Arsenals battled to a goalless drawn game against defending League champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.