The Sunday News
Whawha ……………………..….. (0)1
Chicken Inn …………………….. (0)1
LOG leaders Chicken Inn battled back from behind to squeeze a one-all draw against relegation threatened Whawha in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League played at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
A sucker punch by Toto Banda right at the dearth saved the Gamecocks who had toiled the whole afternoon in frustration after failing to deflate the solid Whawha defence which was well marshaled by Marshal Machazane.
Banda was a beneficiary of a Brian Mbiriri cross from the left side and Philip Nhete failed to intercept it leaving Banda with an easy task to tap into an empty net from what seemed to be an offside position.
The goal sparked protests from Whawha technical bench resulting in the Gweru outfit’s technical director Lloyd Mutasa invading the pitch and earned himself marching orders from referee Norman Matemera.
Chekerapasi as Whawha are affectionately known took the lead just six minutes after the interval when Paddington Maburutse gained possession in the middle of the park before feeding Nelson Maziwisa who shrugged off a clumsy challenge from Moses Jackson to place the ball into the far left corner beyond an outdrawn Elvis Chipezeze.
Chicken Inn seemed to have everything figured out when they took control of the match from the onset knocking the ball around with aplomb but could not find a way past a disciplined Whahwa defence which kept its lines well. Michelle Katsvairo shot wide from inside the box in the 28th minute after being set up by Bhekimpilo Ncube.
Chicken Inn kept on probing their opponents and in 76th minute, Edmore Chirambadare unleashed a thunderbolt after getting a short pass from a free kick by Clemence Matawu but Nhete tipped the ball over the bar.
Whawha seemed to have secured the much needed three points that could have enhanced their chances of evading the dagger but employed some amateur delaying techniques in a desperate effort to contain pressure from the Gamecocks.
This, however, proved costly as they conceded a goal in the 90th minute when they failed to intercept a cross from Mbiriri which found an unmarked Banda inside the box who made no mistake and tapped into an empty net.
Whawha coach Luke Jukulile blamed his charges for lack of concentration towards the end of the game which denied them maximum points after conceding a late goal.
“It was lack of concentration by the boys because they failed to hold on and conceded a goal at the stroke of the game.
However, we are hopeful that we will survive relegation because the point that we got today will help us enhance our chances of surviving.
I am also not happy with the way the match officials handled the match because we were always on the receiving end,” he said.
Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas was impressed with his charges’ performance and fighting spirit.
“We wanted to get an early goal to ease pressure off us but we ended up conceding. We didn’t really play our normal game because of the pressure to get an early goal and also where we are at the log. But I also want to give credit for fighting up to the end, they showed so much character which is needed at the stage of the campaign,” said Antipas.
