DEFENDING Ghana Premier League (GPL) champions, Bibiani Gold Stars, kept the pressure on leaders Medeama SC with a 2-1 victory over visiting Hearts of Oak in their Matchday 24 game played at the Dun’s Park, yesterday.

The win reduced the points gap between them and Medeama to one.

A goal in each half from Samuel Attah Kumi on 15 minutes and Augustine Boakye on 87 minutes ‘dwarfed’ Henry Kweku Boateng’s 64th-minute equaliser on a rain-soaked pitch.

Tagged as the battle for second spot, the high-tension game lived up to its billing right from the start as the home side dominated the exchanges with the Phobian goal area boiling with action.

Gold Stars broke the deadlock through the league’s top scorer, Attah Kumi, in the 15th minute as he reacted quickly to slot home a cross from Yaw Amankwah Baafi. The goal was his 11th of the campaign, and he could have increased the tally with another chance that came his way in the 28th minute but was denied by defender Kelvin Osei Asibey.

Hearts picked up midway through the half and pushed the host into their half, but the few chances that came their way were not utilised.

Back from the break, the Phobians continued with the pressure and found the equaliser through Kweku Boateng on the 64th minute.

The last four fixtures between the two sides have ended in scoring draws. At a point, the game looked like following in that pattern until substitute Boakye poked home the match winner with three minutes remaining on the clock.

With the victory, Gold Stars now sit comfortably in second place on 45 points, five better than the Phobians and one shy of the leaders Medeama SC, who drew goalless with Swedru All Blacks in Swedru, with 10 games remaining.