By S. Siapha Mulbah
A One-all draw on Saturday September 16, 2023, was reached in the first ever derby in the city of Paynesville, as both Watanga FC and Paynesville Football Clubs faced off in a thrilling encounter.
They had both anticipated a victory to own bragging rights of their constituency during the round two fixtures of the 2023/2024 Liberia Football Association national first division league.
After a goalless first half, Coach Cooper Sannor’s boys, through their captain Fasedu Logan, busted the back of the net, to give Watanga a lead that placed a huge smile on the face of the club president, Deputy Minister for Sports, Andy Quamie.
From the bench to replace Chauncey Freeman, Logan in the second half used just a few minutes to register the match’s first goal, scored in the 67th minute. The goal prompted the newly promoted side to the national league to tweak their tactics for a result that could turn-over their situation at the moment.
Paynesville got an equalizer in less than 10 minutes after going behind, through a free-kick in the arc around the 18 yard box in the 75th minute, to end the celebration of the former champions of the competition, all thanks to Edward Ledlum, who splendidly placed the ball under the wall and beyond the reach of goalkeeper, Teddy Kollie.
The derby draw for Watanga secured them four points from two matches played in the current campaign, while Paynesville’s search for a straight win extends to match-day three, having drawn their first two games.
Watanga defeated Global Pharma 2-1 in the league’s opening round, to join Heaven Eleven, LISCR, Mighty Barrolle and Nimba Kwado football clubs that also picked up wins in the round. A one-all opening draw against Bea Mountain in a home fixture was witnessed during round one of the competition for the big money spenders at Paynesville.
LPRC Oilers, Kallon–Liberia, Bea Mountain, and Paynesville Football Club all drew in the opening round of the league and are in search for better results in the coming fixtures.
