National Men’s First Division Playoffs Zone A Updates

By: Tejan Frederickson Fatorma, Northeast Region Football Association (NERFA) Media and Marketing

Rutile Rangers hopes of registering a three points in their opening match against Great Scarcies FC was dented following a 1-1 draw at the Makeni Wusum stadium in the ongoing National First-Division Playoffs. 

Much of the first half passed by without anything meaningful to note, both sides feeling the other out in what was a cagey opening first half. 

Both sides showed real reluctance to actually mount any kind of sustained pressure and the first half ended with neither really laying a glove on the other.

The second half was quite dramatic as the Southern region based club, Rutile Rangers took the lead in the 65th minutes courtesy of Pious Bornor who sliced in a low-cross that went at the back of the net.

The Bonthonians anticipation of carrying the day was neutralized after the Western Area central referee awarded a penalty to Great Scarcies FC for a clumsy tackle in the 85th minutes. It was converted from the spot  by Alhassan Bangura to restore parity.

The second match of the day was between Freetown FC and Sahid Conteh-U FC.

After been held to a 1-1 draw yesterday by Real Republicans FC through a penalty; Dosso Sidik of Freetown FC accounted for the opener in the 4th minutes through a set piece which was carefully placed at the top left hand corner of the post. The skipper doubled his lead as he settled for a brace in less than ten minutes after he gained control of a pass in front of Conteh-U goal and riffled a shot into the lower-right corner to give his side a 2-0 lead in the ninth minutes into the match.

The Northeast region Super 10 runners-up trimmed their deficit as Samuel B. Conteh nodded in a cross that went at the back of the net in the 21st minutes to make it 2-1.

Conteh-U, who had a couple shot on target had an excellent scoring opportunity which sailed just wide of it's mark before Freetown FC struck again 3-1 before halftime through Jerry Haruna who collected a great pass and lofted a perfectly places shot that passed goalkeeper, Gibrilla M. Marafa.

Substitute, Bobson L. Kamara for Sahid Conteh-U scored a brilliant goal to take the score line to 3-2, but his effort was not enough to shared the spoil.

Freetown FC now have four points, four goals in after two matches played.

Real Republicans FC, Rutile Rangers FC, and Great Scarcies FC have one points each. Sahid Conteh-U FC with no point after o e match played.