By Momodou Jarju
The country’s most successful and decorated club in football history, Wallidan FC, have become new table-toppers in the First Division League 2021-22 football season following their derby win over their long-time rivals Real De Banjul on Monday.
Played at the Independence Stadium in BaKau, the Blue Boys defeated the City Boys 2-1 in what was a match for the top battle. A win for either team would send them top of the country’s premier league as week-four table-toppers, Falcons FC, lost for the first time in the league to GPA by 2-0.
The blue boys took the lead 8 minutes into the match courtesy of Ablie Manneh. Real’s forward Muhammed Lamin Demba levelled the scores in the one-hour mark. The Gambia U-20 skipper Kajally Drammeh shot at goal forced Wallidan’s shot-stopper to spill the ball for Demba to equalise for the Whites. 16 minutes later, Wallidan’s Ablie Manke extended the lead which was all but enough to seal an important victory for the blue boys.
Before the encounter, Bye Malleh’s Whites and Foday Bah’s Blues were separated by 2 points. Wallidan were unbeaten in their previous four matches even though they started slow in league, drawing twice by their third match.
Wallidan have now registered two wins in a row beating Steve Biko with the same score line in week-four before a short Christmas and New Year’s break. Their win against Real de Banjul have earned them 11 points. They have since scored 6 goals and conceded just twice.
