Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju marked his 100th appearance for FCB Nyasa Bullet yesterday with a precious goal that helped the TNM Super League leaders defeat newcomers Ekhaya FC 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Second-placed Mighty Wanderers also made sure they bagged full points with a 2-0 victory over another newly-promoted outfit Songwe Border FC at Karonga Stadium.
The two Blantyre-based giants’ victories mean the status quo in the top three remain unchanged with Bullets at the summit with 27 points followed by the Nomads at 26 and Ekhaya stuck at 20 points in third place.
Bullets supporters had three minutes of anxiety when Wanderers took the lead in the 55th minute through Wisdom Mpinganjira from a Promise Kamwendo assist.
But Babatunde brought smiles back on the Bullets fans’ faces when he headed in Henry Chiwaya free-kick in the 58th minute which separated the two sides.
Then Wanderers striker Blessings Mwalilino doubled the Nomads lead in the 79th minute.
Despite the victory, Bullets coach Peter Mponda said it was not an easy match.
He said: “They [Ekhaya] are very organised. We failed to find spaces, but we managed to keep the ball. Credit should go to the guys because even though it was it was hard, we kept playing the same way we we started.”
On his part, Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira sadi he was relieved to collect full points.
He said: “It was a very good game. Very tough for us. It was very difficult. But all the same, I am very happy that we’ve won and we’ve collected three points.”
In the day’s other match, defending champions Silver Strikers also collected full points after defeating Creck Sporting Club 2-1 at Aubrey Dimba in Mchinji.
Midfielder Uchizi Vunga broke the deadlock in the 14th minute but defender Nickson Mwase gifted the hoists with an own-goal in the 60th minute.
However, striker Binwell Katinji restored the Bankers’ lead six minutes later.
Silver are up to fourth positon from sixth with 18 points, displacing Blue Eagles who are now fifth.
Silver coach Peter Mgangira admitted that at one point, maximum poinst looked elusive.
“I always say that when you are defending champions, every team will come flat out against,” he said.
At Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, Kamuzu Barracks (KB) held Civil Service United to a one-all draw.
KB had to come from behind through forward Olson Kanjira to cancel Dastan Banda’s first-half.
