Orange 2nd Division: Cece United Grasp First-Ever Win
Cece United players celebrate after Theodore Gould scored their first-ever second division goal.
Theodore Gould and Patrick Kasor netted a penalty each as newly-promoted Cece United sealed their first-ever win in the Orange 2nd Division League, a 2-1 win against Small Town FC on Saturday.
The result at the Blue Field was a bounce-back for Cece United, having lost to fellow newly-promoted Pags FC in their opening match at the C.H. Dewey sports pitch in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. New head coach Jasper Benfliex made four changes in his starting lineup from the previous game against Pags FC.
Cece United had plenty of chances from a dominant first half performance, but failed to capitalize on the opportunities. Jerome George, one of the new changes in the starting lineup, came close to getting the curtain raiser when he was set-up by Francis Doe, but his tap-in on the ball wasn’t good enough to travel across the goal line.
After a goalless first half, Coach Benfliex’s boys finally recorded their first-ever goal in the Orange second division league in the 59th minute when defender Theodore Gould brilliantly converted a spot kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way through a placement in the bottom left corner of the goalpost.
Small Town conceded the penalty when striker Francis Doe was fouled in the penalty area 56 minutes down the clock. Cece continued to dominate possession and substitute Patrick Kasor was next in line with the second goal scored from another penalty in the 77th minute after skipper Edwin Johnson was brought down in the danger zone.
Three minutes later, Small Town got a consolation after Cece's defense struggled to clear a cross into their half. The visitors became more aggressive, but the remaining 10 minutes plus the six minutes added time could not help them to get an equalizer.
November 6, 2021, will be remembered in the team’s history as the date they sealed their first-ever win in the Liberia second-tier league. The result leaves Cece United in the 5th position on the 14 teams’ log, level on points with Pags FC, NPA Anchors, and Ganta Almighty.
Orange 2nd Division Match Day 2 Round-up
Nimba FC maintained the top spot on the league table after a 2-1 victory over Gardnersville FC, who remain bottom without a point in two matches. Jubilee is the second side to have collected all six points from their first two games, following a 1-0 win against Pags FC at the Technical Center in Careysburg.
Muscat FC's difficult start of the season continued as they are yet to secure a win from two matches. The Paynesville-based club suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Ganta Almighty at the SKD Mini-stadium.
Life FC, formerly Jai FC, are yet to secure a point in the new league season. They suffered their second successive defeat with a 2-0 loss against newly promoted Bong Rangers at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
Junior Pro moved to fourth after a narrow 1-0 win against NPA Anchors that are seated 7th with three points from two games. Margibi’s Tony FC and Mighty Blue Angels have both failed to get their first win as they settled to a goalless draw at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County. Tony is 9th, while Blue Angels are 10th.