By S. Siapha Mulbah
The Fish Town team, with a huge representation of the actual county-based players, maintained a topnotch energetic performance in the 2023/2024 National County Meet by defeating Bong County 2-1 in an extended match.
Kpatawee was not a safe zone for football from the start of the first quarterfinal match which paired the Bongees against the southeastern boys from River Gee County.
In three minutes from the start of the match, Danie Toe converted a penalty to draw first blood, sending the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex into a celebration of green flags among the cheering fans.
Bong County played to the goal deficit against them till the end of the first half and engaged into the second half down to the pressure of getting an equalizer. Their dreams of progression tarried till more than 80 minutes were recorded in the game.
After a prolonged play down to a goal, Bong County came with a redemption from Victor Mantor on 81 minutes.
The left full back was best suited in a position of the penalty area to finish a rebound strike after River Gee County goal keeper, Humphrey Grugbay, denied attacker Archbishop Tah from scoring a long-range shot.
Mantor’s finish was only enough to take the game to 30 minutes of extra time, but was insufficient to take them through.
Bong County’s hopes were dashed in the 115th minute when goal keeper Andrew Nyantee slipped on an overhead save, bringing down the ball easily on the leg of Blamo Weah who was desperately in need of a goal.
Weah’s goal broke the hearts of the Bong faithful and brought tears to players and fans like, extending their quest for a win after decades.
