Areeba Hockey League

Unpredictable CEPS hand Marine Sticks a League Title Lifeline:
CEPS Hockey Club slammed the brakes on free-scoring Golden Sticks of Ghana Commercial Bank with a 1-0 win in their 11th week cliff-hanger in the Areeba Hockey League. Golden Sticks, who were breathing heavily down the neck of the Mariners in pursue of the league championship thus slip to 3rd position behind sworn rivals Exchequers though both clubs share the same points. The pre-match analysis saw a lot of the followers of the game predicting a win for the Bankers who have enjoyed a fine run of form in the past 4 weeks. A win for the Bankers would have brought them within 2 points of the leaders with 2 matches to wrap-up the competition. This would have set the stage for a sensational finish to a keenly contested league competition which has produced some fine hockey and exceptional player finesse.

CEPS came into the game with a different agenda and that was to re-emphasize the fact that they were in no mood to lose their league title just like that. The match started on a fast note with both teams seeking to unsettle their opponents. It was a fast and thrilling encounter with the Bankers enjoying a greater part of play. CEPS were however resolute in defence and midfield and kept the goal-hungry attacking line-up of the Bankers at bay. On resumption, CEPS launched a quick attack that created a melee in the Bankers? scoring circle. During the scramble, the ball rolled to unmarked SWAG player of the year, Eddie Frimpong who slapped the ball into the far corner of the Bankers? net for the only goal of the match. The goal was greeted with big cheer from a group of Marine Sticks who had converged at a point to watch the match. The match continued in the typical ding-dong pattern after the goal with both sides creating scoring opportunities that were missed. The last five minutes were perhaps even more gruelling for the Marine Sticks players some of whom who could not keep to their seats and some of whom kept biting their fingernails in great anticipation. Time after time, the Bankers came close but the CEPS men kept them in close check till the hooter sounded for the end of proceedings. The joy of the Mariners surpassed that of the team that had won the match and it was evident when national star Edward Oblie and his colleagues went to hug the CEPS players after the game and offered to provide them with refreshment.

In the other Areeba League match of the day, Exchequers of Bank of Ghana responded to the CEPS favour with a 4-0 spanking of uninspiring Police in a one sided match. Samuel Kwaw hit the Police backboard three times from penalty corners (10th, 23rd, 54th) with young striker Leslie Barnor scoring from open play in the 61st. The win takes Exchequers into second place in the pecking order of the League

Areeba ?A? ? League (Men)

 No	Team	P	W	D	L	G/F	G/A	Points	GD 
 1	Marine	10	8	1	1	27	10	25	+17
 2	Exchequers 	10	6	2	2	20	8	20	+12
 3	Gldn Sticks	10	6	2	2	19	9	20	+10
 4	CEPS	11	5	3	3	22	11	18	+11
 5	Trustees	10	3	2	5	24	20	11	+4
 6	Reformers	9	2	0	7	11	20	6	-9
 7	Police	10	0	0	10	1	46	0	-45 

Multistix Win the Areeba Senior League Championship:

 No.	Team	P	W	D	L	G/F	G/A	Points	GD
 1	Extinguishers	12	11	1	0	25	4	34	+21
 2	Reformers 	12	5	4	3	13	6	19	+7
 3	CEPS	12	1	4	7	6	15	7	-9
 4	Police	12	1	3	8	5	24	6	-19