Lioli and Bantu drop points, Nyenye
continue to fight hard, and Joy get their first win. This weekend’s Vodacom
Premier League talking points…
 |
| Catch me if you can... Everyone's still chasing Lioli |
Both Bantu and Lioli will
be kicking themselves this Monday morning. Hard.
Bantu
failed to build on their win over Lioli last weekend, only managing a 1-1 draw
with Nyenye Rovers and Lioli, in turn, failed to capitalise on A Matšo Matebele’s slip-up drawing 1-1
with LDF after conceding a late equaliser.
For
Lioli it is becoming a worrying trend – conceding after taking the lead. The
champions have the best offence in the Vodacom Premier League scoring 28 goals
in 12 matches, but their defence is beginning to be called into question.
It
certainly cost them against Bantu two weekends ago, a match in which Tse Nala
also went ahead, and it let them down again this weekend. Lioli drew 1-1 with
Linare as well.
This
set of results also represents a sort of mixed bag for Tse Nala. Lioli have come through a difficult stretch – Matlama,
LMPS, LCS, Bantu and LDF – pretty much unscathed,
but they are struggling to dominate their rivals at the top.
Bantu
will be disappointed too, maybe more than Lioli After drawing their first two
games, Bantu went on an unbeaten run of eight wins and a draw, plus an
Independence Cup title. However, a point against Nyenye Rovers leaves A Matšo Matebele still behind Lioli
which ultimately is all that matters – even if they beat Lioli in head-to-head
clashes.
Nyenye Rovers are fighting
In
the past three weeks Nyenye Rovers have beaten LDF, drawn with Linare and now
held title-chasing Bantu to a draw. Rovers are really fighting hard. In fact,
Rovers are unbeaten in six games, a run that stretches back to September 29.
Expected to be right in the thick of the relegation fight, Rovers are producing
miracles. Though by no means out of danger yet, Rovers are seven points above
the drop zone, with a game in hand.
Third-place up for grabs
With
the top two pretty much entrenched, the battle Lesotho
 |
| Matlama for third? |
Matlama
are firmly in the race. Tse Putsoa
now have two games in hand on the sides around them after their game against Likhopo
was rescheduled because of call-ups to the Lesotho Under-20 side. But, there really
is no clear favourite for third and even LCS, in ninth, may well believe they
can still crack the top three after notching their first win since September 21
yesterday.
Joy get their first win
There
was joy for Joy yesterday as they finally got their first win of the season.
Joy beat fellow relegation favourites Melele to get the monkey off their backs,
and regards relegation, get to within five points of safety at least.
Weekend Results
Saturday, 23 November
Nyenye
Rovers 1-1 Bantu
Linare
1-1 Mphatlalatsane
Lioli
1-1 LDF
Likhopo
v Matlama (Postponed)
Sunday, 24 November
Joy
2-1 Melele
Mpharane
Celtic 0-1 LCS
Qoaling
Highlanders 2-1 LMPS
Vodacom Premier League
|
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
1
|
Lioli
|
12
|
9
|
2
|
1
|
28
|
9
|
+19
|
29
|
|
2
|
Bantu
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
21
|
3
|
+18
|
28
|
|
3
|
Linare
|
12
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
17
|
10
|
+7
|
22
|
|
4
|
Matlama
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
12
|
7
|
+5
|
20
|
|
5
|
LDF
|
12
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
12
|
8
|
+4
|
20
|
|
6
|
Likhopo
|
11
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
14
|
9
|
+5
|
18
|
|
7
|
Qoaling Highlanders
|
11
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
10
|
11
|
-1
|
15
|
|
8
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
12
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
14
|
15
|
-1
|
13
|
|
9
|
LCS
|
10
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
7
|
6
|
+1
|
12
|
|
10
|
Nyenye Rovers
|
11
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
10
|
10
|
+0
|
12
|
|
11
|
LMPS
|
12
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
10
|
15
|
-5
|
11
|
|
12
|
Mpharane Celtic
|
12
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
14
|
28
|
-14
|
9
|
|
13
|
Melele
|
12
|
1
|
2
|
9
|
8
|
23
|
-15
|
5
|
|
14
|
Joy
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
5
|
28
|
-23
|
4
|
