.…..Silver 1-3 Support Battalion

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Silver Strikers Reserve football club has finished the 2023 Chipiku Stores Premier division league on a bad note as they were attacked and hammered 1-3 by Support Battalion Combat Unit Soldiers at home Nankhaka Stadium on Wednesday.

The Soldiers showed intent of winning the match which was played under bad weather as it was a heavy downpour in Area 30, breaking the dead lock at 10th minute through Brown James.

However, McDonald Yobe’s side replied too fast in the 13th minute through Clever Kalambo.

After this goal, the duel kept on pressing each other in search of goals.

Lasuli Jali who has been scoring goals for Silver since their lethal attacker Ebenezer Mpangeni got injured, missed a golden opportunity of extending his team’s lead as he failed to convert a spot kick in the 20th minute by hitting the upright bar.

Reacting to this, the soldiers launched an encircling attack, as others used leopard craw to score a spectacular goal through Lumbani Mkandawire who received a stunning pass from Blessings Gwanzantini.

At half time the match was at 2-1 with Support Battalion leading.

Come second half, the match was sort of a see-saw as the two sides could not maintain their dominance for so long, and failed to keep possession of the ball.

Edwin Sadic, Lumbani Mkandawire and Blessings Gwanzantini squandered chances they created in the game for Support and so too was Lasuli Jali, Clever Kalambo and Madalitso Maso for the Central Bankers.

The match saw Support Battalion head Coach Temwa Msuku receiving red card for exchanging words with the referee in the 77th minute.

The game was thought to end 1-2, but Blessings Gwanzantini had another thought as he unleashed a powerful shot within 18 yards box beating Dennis Chalila in goals for Silver Reserve to make it 1-3 at the dot of additional time and soon the match was ended.

In his reaction, Silver Strikers Reserve head coach McDonald Yobe said, “It was a good game though they missed a lot of chances their created hence got punished. We have just to work out in some areas during the break to see what we are going to bring in the forthcoming season.

“I’m not satisfied for finishing third in the league as a lot has happened that contributed to our poor showcasing this round including the body’s way of running affairs”.

“On the other part, I can say we are happy as we have managed to groom and nurture the young players who have been promoted to our senior team and we have also won one cup, Nyasa Capital Finance “, said Yobe.

Support Battalion coach, Temwa Msuku said it was a good game for both sides.

“Silver played well in the first half, their intensity was very high as we were always second in every situation but in the second stanza we outplayed them.

“We dominated in the midfield with the system we used 4-3-3 as our friends used 4-4-2 and also we used aerial game because of the condition of the pitch.I am not satisfied being on position 5 but this is due to some factors beyond our control”, Msukwa said.

Silver Strikers Reserve have finished with 44 points from 22 games played; winning 14, drawn 2 and lost 6 scored a total goals of 40 and conceded 22,currently on third position, while Support Battalion moved on 6th position with 33 points from 21 games their last match of the season will be against Mbabzi United football club.