By Gamini Perera
The stage 13 match between the lowly-placed, Pettah United SC and the formidable Ratnam SC turned out to be a sizzling encounter.

Ratnams who were trailing 0-3 behind their less-fancied opponents put on a dogged display in the second session to reduce the deficit as well as to give a chilling fright to their opponents. They rallied round to a man and only time deprived them of getting the equaliser.

Eventually, Pettah United won this match by 3 goals to 2, all three goals been scored in the first half of play.

This premier league match was played at the Sugathadasa Stadium last Saturday, January 12.

A remarkable feature in the Ratnam fight-back was the fine cohesion shown by their two foreign players, the 18-year-old striker, Peter Shikkan from Nigeria and Ghanian mid-fielder Ahmad Ali. Ali during the latter stages of the second half joined his forwards to stage this unforgettable recovery.

Channa responsible

The Pettah-United mid-fielder E. B. Channa, a national player was responsible for all the three goals scored by Pettah United in the first session.

In the 20th minute, Channa went high up in the penalty box to spectacularly head to record Pettah’s first goal.

In the 22nd. minute, Channa sent in a cross pass to Kasun Jayasuriya and Kasun the roving striker made no mistake to find the net with a sizzling low drive.

In the 25th minute, it was Channa again who crossed a peach of a drive from the flank which saw Jayasuriya striking again.

At the half, Pettah United were surprisingly leading by 3 goals to nil.

The fight back

It was in the 85th minute of play that Ratnams were rewarded for their gallant fight-back.

The Ghanian mid-fielder, Ahamd Ali manoeuvring advantageously in the penalty box, sent in an angular drive which beat the Pettah United goal-keeper. He was taken by surprise as the ball went into the net.

Been cheered and roused by their supporters no end, Ratnams scored their second goal through M. S. M. Nunsoor alias ‘Babu’ to make the tally, 2-3.

It was in the 89th minute of play.

With just a minute to go for the final whistle, Ratnams staged a do or die battle, but, were unlucky not to have got the elusive ‘equaliser’.

Well done Ratnams for your gallant fight and affording the vociferous crowd an unforgettable match, free of charge.

Referee: A. J. C. Deshapriya, assisted by: K. I. Dissanayake and C. A. B. Marasinghe.

Match Commissioner: H. K. Gnanasena.

Journalist threatened

It was really disheartening to see this writer, who was covering this match for ‘The Island’ been threatened by unidenified spectators. Hefty-looking men in sarong got around this writer, during and after the match and slandering him with raw filth wanted him to write adverse reports on referring at this match.

"We will not allow you to come to the Stadium if you don’t condemn the referees in this match. The next time you walk into this Stadium you will be thrashed. We want you to criticise the rulings of the referee, come what may", one fan yelled.

Been a noted figure among the players as well as the fans, this writer is an easy target to be manhandled.

It is the opinion of this writer that the referring of A. J. C. Deshapariya left no room for any adverse comments.

The Football Federation must educate the fans who seem to think that they know every single rule of the game. The referees are a tried and tested lot, having gone through many tests at seminars and workshops, before they are appointed to referee matches.

As this writer was in a hurry to beat the deadline for the Sunday Edition of ‘The Island’ he had to run to office to file his story. Some used vituperative language as he was hurrying back to office.

It was not because he was frightened of his would be assailants, but, because he had to catch the vital deadline for this story.

Over to you, the competition and the Disciplinary Committees of the FFSL.

The Island which gives vivid and extensive coverage for football, especially the ongoing Premier League 2001/2002 championship must be treated better by those who patronize these matches - the sport of the common man in Sri Lanka.

This writer is not sacred for any assault, but his prime objective is to always honour the deadline given to him, whatever the circumstances are.