Power FC out of Premiership

Ho, April 29, GNA - Kpando Heart of Lions on Sunday finally pushed Power FC into relegation when they beat them by a lone goal in the final matches of the Onetouch Premier League at the Ho Sports stadium. Sadat Bukari beautifully converted a spot kick in the 30th minute for the only goal of the match after a Lion's defender had handled the ball in the 18- yard box.

It was Lions who dominated the first quarter of the first half of the game but were unable to find the net with Bukari being the worst culprit as he missed clear chances including one- on- one chances with only the Power keeper.

Power revived their game plan in the second half but they also lacked bite up front to cause any havoc.

In the 71st minute, they laid surge on the Lions defence but the strikers again failed to put the ball behind the net. The spot-light of the game was the good reflexes of the two keepers as they pulled spectacular saves to record only a lone goal in the match.

Power's keeper Lawrence Quaye was adjudged man of the match.

Accra Hearts Oak emerged the Onetouch (GT) Premier League with 58 points when they pipped Berekum Arsenals 1 - 0 in their last encounter at the Robert Mensah stadium, Cape Coast on Sunday to round off the Premier league.

After referee Cecil Fletcher signalled the two sides into action, Arsenal matched Hearts squarely but caved in when Ekow Ghasah sent a neat pass to inside left Stanley Afedzie to score the match winner in the 35th minute.

Arsenals who were down by the lone goal made several efforts to find the equalizer but all their efforts could not find the net till the end of the full time.

Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals ended the 2006/7 Premier League season in style when they thumped visiting Swedru Gamba All Blacks 3-1 in the 30th week Onetouch Premier League match played at the Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park in Accra on Sunday.

As the two sides appeared to be safe from the relegation blues and had nothing much to fight for in the encounter, it was however Liberty who started the game as the aggressors and in the fifth minute opened the scores when Michael Osei pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to slot the ball beyond Isaac Akron in post for All Blacks for the opener.

After taking the lead, Liberty continued to bring more urgency into their game and nearly doubled their lead two minutes later when Richard Kissi cracked a fierce shot against the posts.

All Blacks gradually warmed themselves into the game and had a penalty claim ignored by the referee in the 20th minute when Richard Ampong, the team's tormentor in chief was brought down in the box by a hard-pressed Liberty defender.

The visitors gradually found their rhythm as the game wore on and had a brilliant opportunity to draw level when Ampong again capitalized on a mistake by Liberty's central defender David Addo. But with only goalkeeper Nana Bonsu to beat, the All Blacks striker appeared to run out of ideas as he allowed Nana Bonsu in post for Liberty to make a timely intervention.

With the first half drawing to a close, Liberty added to their lead when their best player on the day, Kojo Asamoah fired in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the goalpost in the 44th minute giving the fully stretched visiting goalkeeper no chance.

The second half started on a slower note compared to the first, but again it was Liberty who appeared to be slightly on top as substitute Kofi Nti Boakye tormented the defence of All Blacks from the left and it came as no surprise when he scored the third goal as he connected a low corner kick from the left flank in the 68th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

With four minutes to end the match, All Blacks hard working and smallish player, Ampong rose high to meet a cross from the right into the net to score a consolation goal for his side.