Orange First Division Weekend Preview
It is at this stage of the league season that different feelings emerge, as every single match is deemed crucial. Daily Observer Sports desk brings you a preview of the deciding weekend fixtures for the Orange First Division League.
Bea Mountain vs. Nimba Kwado – Kinjor 3:30 PM
With five games left to play, both Bea Mountain and Nimba Kwado are among top four major title contenders and will be hoping for a win to widen their chances of winning the league title. B. Mountain are the hosts of Sunday’s game that will be played at the Kinjor Sports Pitch in Grand Cape Mount County.
Bea Mountain have the worst home record among the top four teams after losing three home games at home and currently sitting 4th on the 12 team log with 29 points, six points behind league leaders LPRC Oilers, while Nimba- second-best home record team- are in second place with just a point behind Oilers following their 1-1 home draw in their previous fixture.
B. Mountain, headed by Coach Abraham Sese, were predicted to be major contenders for the title since the start of the season due to their arsenal of experienced players, but continue to linger between the 4th and 5th places.
For a long period during the season, Kwado enjoyed the top position of the table with a single point ahead of defending champions Oilers, but slipped off after a goalless draw against Nimba FC on Sunday, April 4, before Oilers claimed the table when they defeated Mighty Barrolle 3-1.
A win for either side is very crucial at this stage of the league of the league season. First leg between both teams ended 1-1.
Freeport vs. LPRC Oilers- ATS- 4:00 PM
League leaders Oilers will travel away to Freeport FC on Sunday as they will need a win to maintain their lead atop of the table. Oilers may feel comfortable due to their 2-0 win in the first leg, but this weekend fixture, as mentioned is a deciding one as the result will have a huge impact on Oilers that are 15 points away from retaining their title.
Freeport on the other hand, have avoided defeat in their last four and seem to have picked up their rhythm for the closing stage of the season after a rewarding 2-0 victory over Mighty Barrolle last weekend at the famous Tusa Field.
Freeport are currently sixth on the league table, four points behind fifth-placed Watanga. From all indications, Freeport are now fighting to end the season in a top position as they are 12 points behind the Coach Cooper Sannah’s Oilers.
LISCR vs Nimba FC- Tusa Field – 4:00 PM
The possibility of LISCR increasing their points tally to 33 this weekend is high as they are set to host bottom-side Nimba FC. Nimba FC have the second-worst defensive record in the league as they sit second from bottom with nine points.
Coach Tapha Manneh needs a win to close the gap between Nimba Kwado and Oilers and will have the chance to play in front their fans at the Tusa Field for the first since the refurbishment of the mini-stadium in the populated Gardnersville Township.
A defeat for Nimba FC, coupled with at least a draw for NPA Anchors in their weekend fixture will confirm the Nimba-based club relegation to the second division before the end of the season.
Small Town vs. Mighty Barrolle- Kakata- 3:30 PM
Mighty Barrolle will have the opportunity bounce back from their defeat streak when they face Small Town FC that could be relegated this weekend.
Barrolle are in 7th position and have had a horrible moment midway through phase two of the season with five defeats in their last six league games that took them off the title race.
Small Town on the other hand have a slimed chance of securing at least a draw as they continue to languish at the bottom, 13 points away from safety.
Mighty Barrolle won the first-leg 2-0.
Watanga FC vs M.C Breweries – SKD Mini-stadium- 3:30 PM
Monrovia Club Breweries may have had a fair share of all three points in the first-leg when they defeated Watanga 1-0 but the weekend’s game like every game will be a different showpiece.
Rocked by criticism after collecting 14 points during the first half of the season, coach Matthew Julutweh’s boys have had a decent performance, collecting seven points from their last three games and are now seated 5th place, two points behind Bea Mountain.
It will be an intriguing game between top performing Farsedu Logan of Watanga and Breweries’ Sidiki Kromah, who have continued played a vital role in their respective team’s games this season.
NPA Anchors vs Nimba United –ATS- 2:00 PM
Lastly, it will be another tight game between ninth-placed NPA Anchors and tenth-placed Nimba United in the early kickoff at the ATS. Anchors are two points above the relegation zone and will not want to drop downwards as a win for United will see them move a point above relegation with four games left to play.
