Wa All Stars highlighted their title credentials with a deserving 2-0 win over Inter Allies at the Wa Park in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
Striker Richard Arthur reacted to a Maxwell Baako cross from the right with an incisive header midway through the second-half before Emmanuel Ocran sealed victory for the home side in stoppage-time.
Allies goalkeeper Osei Kwame produced a string of impressive saves to deny a barrage of All Stars attacks to keep Herbert Addo's men in the game.
Striker Sheriff Deo Mohammed who scored nine league goals last season was named on the Allies bench for the first time this season after recovering from injury.
Allies manager Herbert Addo had all three of Ghana U20 starlets Evans Mensah, Isaac Twum and Ropapa Mensah in his line-up.
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Kofi Yeboah and Maxwell Baako were all in the All Stars squad.
Allies made a statement of intent early in the game when Ropapa and Prince Baffoe combined to threaten the hosts goal area.
When All Stars came to live and responded to Allies early challenge goalie Osei Kwame pulled a world-class stop to deny them. Emmanuel Ocran tried to curl home a free-kick from 20 yards but the young custodian dived with feline agility to stop the ball.
All Stars perpetuate their tirade on the Allies goal-mouth and had the best chance in the early exchanges when Kwaku Baffoe wriggled his way through two defenders but directed his header just wide.
In 20 minutes Richard Ofori was called to duty when he produced a good reflex to deny Ibrahim Alhassan who fired at goal from the edge of the area.
Gockel Ahortor tested Ofori again in the 28th minute but the Ghana keeper grabbed it for the second time after spilling the ball.
Osei Kwame got the entire spectators applauding him when he pulled a spectacular stop to deny Richard Arthur 7 minutes into the second-half.
But Allies could not hold on for long as Arthur managed to head the ball beyond Kwame for the opening goal.
Emmanuel Ocran finished off a move in the 90th minute to condemn Allies to defeat.