Silver Strikers earned a double over Mzuzu City Hammers on Wednesday to clinch a 15th win of the season.
This was the Central Bankers’ 24th match this season and the win by the league leaders push them to 54 points on the log table.
Coach Peter Mponda made seven changes to the side that played to a goalless draw on Sunday as he only maintained George Chikooka, Maxwell Paipi, Nickson Mwase and Uchizi Vunga.
The Central Bankers had a slow start to the match but gradually came into the match as Gift Chunga and Nickson Mwase did not utilise their chances at goal.
After 38 minutes, Silver Strikers made a double change by taking out Levison Maganizo and Duncan Nyoni for Chinsisi Maonga and Patrick Macheso.
Despite the changes, a goal was never in sight until halftime.
The second half started in a similar fashion of slow tempo. At 53 minutes, Innocent Mtonga was rested for Chimwemwe Idana.
Nine minutes after the change, Maonga utilised a rebound after Chikumbutso Henderson tried to deal away with a Bankers attack but his clearance fell at the feet of Maonga who easily placed the ball at the corner of the goal to leave the goalie helpless.
After taking the lead, the tempo of the game rose up as the hosts started fighting to find an equaliser but our defence stood firm.
At 77 minutes, the hosts almost equalized after they got a corner when George Chikooka saved a long range free kick. The preceding corner landed on the feet of Chikumbutso Henderson but Nickson Mwase was there to deal with the situation and forced Henderson to concede a goal kick for us.
Three minutes later, Mark Fodya doubled the lead when Uchizi Vunga started a good move on the right as he made a turn inside to spot Fodya who took his time to place the ball perfectly at the far end of the goal.
After the lapse of regulation and added time, the hosts failed to return into the match.
In post match interviews, Mponda said he was happy with the result but wasn’t convinced with the performance of the team.
“I am happy that we have won today but not in a convincing manner of course but with the number of draws we had recently, i think thats okay. We planned that today we should try and win at all costs but with the few chances we created we found two goals and that was okay for us”, Mponda said.
The win has maintained a 7 points gap with second placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
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