Cantonments FC VS Obunu FC

Date : June 6th 2010
Match Venue : Cantonments, Prisons Park
Attendance : 284
Final Scores : 1:0 (0:0) Dola Tetteh 76'
Match Report by Projects Abroad volunteer Jamie Macqueen

Cantonments’ first league fixture of the season was played today after months of waiting. For weeks the league has been scheduled to kick but the FA have found excuse after excuse to delay until this afternoon.

The first ten minutes of the game were played out in scrappy fashion. Obunu had the better of these opening exchanges but were restricted to two free kicks in dangerous positions around the penalty box, both of which were dealt with by the Cantonments defence.

Yeboah and Afrifa changed positions after this and the move almost immediately paid dividends as Ahiabu played the ball to Afrifa in the centre of the pitch before Afrifa sprayed the ball out left for the run of Salifu who was taking advantage of the space left by Ahiabu out wide. Salifu beat the defender and put a cross in but nobody could get on the end of it.

Just a minute later Ahiabu had the first shot on goal in the game as he drove the ball over the bar from distance. On fifteen minutes Salifu was again running past defenders on the left flank before playing the ball inside to Tetteh who could not find the final ball into the forwards. It was all much more encouraging for Cantonments however.

Obunu managed their first shot on goal soon after but only with a shot from fully forty yards out and provided no problems for the as yet untested Colttey. Ahiabu managed to get another shot in at goal but was unable to trouble the goalkeeper after Lavoi had found him on the edge of the penalty area. From the resulting clearance by the Obunu goalkeeper the Cantonments defence almost got themselves into trouble after failing to deal with the high ball. A difficult back pass was played to Colttey who could only slice the ball out of play for a throw in.

The rest of the half saw Obunu get back into the game as they started to put more pressure on the Cantonments midfield and create the best chances. A throw in from the left wing was flicked on by one of their forwards and looked certain to end up at the feet of the second striker before Colttey sprang into life and dived on top of the ball to kill the danger.

Half-time

The second half started slowly but kicked into life after a poor clearance from Martey, who had had an excellent first half, fell to an Obunu player at the edge of the box. The ball was played along the eighteen yard line before a weak attempt at goal from the right sided attacker.

With eight minutes of the second half played Coach Eric looked to his bench for extra life in the team. Akrofi was brought on to replace Ahiabu and Yeboah was moved over to the left of midfield while Akrofi took his berth on the right.

Akrofi was immediately involved in a Cantonments counter attack. Awuni had cleared the ball from the edge of the penalty box and his clearance found Tetteh who headed the ball left into the run of Junior. Junior carried the ball down the left and found Akrofi free in the middle about twenty-five yards from goal. Akrofi, however, could not find the final ball he would have wanted and the move came to an end. Little happened in the next ten minutes so Coach Eric made his second change as Tawiah came on to replace Lavoi.

Tawiah would prove to be a positive edition to the side as he combined with Salifu to create a shooting opportunity which Salifu could not get on target. The Cantonments defence had been looking very solid following the early lapses in concentration in the second half. Awuni in particular was looking increasingly assured as the match went on. The only thing missing in the team was the final killer ball.

After thirty minutes of the second half the killer ball was finally provided. Salifu had won the ball in the left back position. He carried the ball forward before slipping a neat pass inside to Tawiah. Tawiah ghosted past his marker and played the ball down the left flank to Salifu who had continued his run from left back. Salifu then played a hard low cross behind the defence which found Junior. Junior had the composure to take his time, despite being six yards from goal, and laid the ball to Tetteh who had an empty net to slot the ball into. Cantonments 1-0 Obunu.

Tawiah had been giving the Obunu defence little respite since coming on especially down the left. His strike partner, Junior, was substituted for Kumson with six minutes to play. Two minutes later an unlikely supplier of chances threw a cross into the box. Awuni had made a run down the right from his position at centre half and found the head of Tetteh in the penalty box but another weak header was gobbled up by the keeper.

The victory looked all but secured at this point as the game had moved into injury time. Colttey was called upon once more though to deal with a vicious effort from way out. Colttey could only tip the effort over the bar and give away a corner. Cantonments defence did its job at the corner and the referee blew his whistle as soon as the ball was cleared. Opening day victory was achieved.

Team Stats

Jersey N. Name Position Yellow C. Red C. Avg. Rating (10 max)
1 Korley Colttey GK     7
14 George Abonny RB     5.5
8 Simon Kwesi Salifu LB     6
2 Daniel Awuni Akpadago CD     8
7 Nii Martey Commodore CD     7
12 Derick Yeboah Nortey DM I   5
13 Thomas Afrifa Ouadu RM     6
6 Dola Tetteh OM     6.5
9 Dodzi Mensah Ahiabu LM     5
10 Christopher Kofi Lavoi S     3
11 Kofi Akom Junior S     5.5
Subs.          
5 Eric Akrofi LM     6
4 Ishmael Ayenor RM      
15 Evans Tawiah S     7
3 Charles Kumson S     -
16 Leonard Adu Alyee GK      

Substitutions :

55’ Eric Akrofi / Dodzi Mensah Ahiabu

67’ Evans Tawiah / Christopher Kofi Lavoi

87’ Kumson Kumson / Kofi Akom Junior

Man of the Match : Daniel Awuni Akpadago

Technical Director : Eric Ofori

Coach : Kofi Enoch Owusu

General Manager : Dominic Baltisser

Physio : Eric Otoo