Weekend Wrap: LCS send out message

After a 2-2 draw with Joy on the opening weekend of the season, LCS have subsequently sent out a strong message that they remain the team to beat with three straight wins.

Still the team to beat...
LCS midfielder Lieta Lehloka (left)

With four games gone, Masheshena have already opened up a four point gap at the top and are the only remaining unbeaten side in the Vodacom Premier League.

Their latest win came on Saturday against a floundering LMPS following on from a notable 2-1 win over Lioli in Teyateyaneng the previous weekend, and a victory over Mpharane Celtic before that.

LCS were, however, far from their best in Saturday’s 1-0 win over LMPS who are now bottom of the league and still winless. That’s the worrying thing for the rest of the league. LCS have yet to play well, even struggling at times, yet they have collected 10 points from a possible 12.

It is a trademark of LCS, winners of the last two championships, and four in the last six years. Although not many improvements were made to their squad in the off-season, adding only Likano Teele from Bantu, Masheshena still boast a team filled with international experience and the cunning needed to win a league title.

This was illustrated in the 2-1 win over Lioli in which LCS were second best for large periods, but still managed to squeeze out a win at the home of a potential title rival.

The rest of the league should be wary; once Masheshena get ahead, it’s very difficult to pull them back.

Linare and Lioli share the spoils

The big game of the weekend was undoubtedly the Great-North derby between Linare and Lioli in Hlotse yesterday. Both sides have shown signs of being title contenders and, as such, yesterday’s game was billed as on opportunity to see their credentials.

The match though didn’t quite live up to expectation, ending in a goalless draw. There was still some drama; Linare missed an early penalty while Lioli’s Motlalepula Mofolo was sent off in what is always a keenly contested match.

Though Linare will likely feel they’ve missed an opportunity, a point isn’t the worst result especially given their poor start to last season, which included a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Lioli. Lioli conversely will no doubt be pleased. The point keeps both teams in the mix and both look as though they have what it takes to remain there until the end of the season.

Title challengers?
Lioli's unmistakable fans

Matlama hoodoo over Likhopo

It seems no matter how bad Matlama are doing they always manage to beat Likhopo. That was the case on Saturday as Tse Putsoa claimed a 1-0 win over their near-rivals in what is already looking like a very unpredictable season. To say the result was unexpected would be an understatement; Matlama had looked totally out of sorts while Likhopo were 2-1 winners over Bantu in Mafeteng the week before.

Speaking of Bantu, they suffered their second consecutive defeat after coming out on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller against Joy yesterday. The 4-3 result in Hlotse means Bantu only have three points while it was a first win of the season for Joy.

Elsewhere, LDF missed the chance to stay close to LCS playing out a 2-2 draw in Maputsoe with Nyenye Rovers, while Mpharane Celtic got their first win of the season with a 2-1 win over new boys Qoaling Highlanders.

Weekend Results

Saturday, 29 September

Joy 4-3 Bantu, Likhopo 0-1 Matlama, LCS 1-0 LMPS

Sunday, 30 September

Linare 0-0 Lioli, Nyenye Rovers 2-2 LDF, Mpharane Celtic 2-1 Qoaling Highlanders

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	LCS	4	3	1	0	7	4	3	10
2	Linare	4	2	1	1	8	4	4	7
3	LDF	4	2	1	1	6	3	3	7
4	Lioli	4	2	1	1	4	2	2	7
5	Likhopo	4	2	0	2	5	4	1	6
6	Nyenye Rovers	4	1	2	1	4	5	-1	5
7	Joy	4	1	2	1	9	11	-2	5
8	Qoaling Highlanders	4	1	1	2	5	7	-2	4
9	Matlama *	3	2	0	1	5	3	2	3
10	Bantu	3	1	0	2	6	6	0	3
11	Mpharane Celtic	4	1	0	3	4	10	-6	3
12	LMPS	4	0	1	3	0	4	-4	1

* Matlama docked 3 points