Silver go top

 Silver Strikers on Sunday fired warning shots about their intentions to fight for the TNM Super League title when they scaled to the top of the table following a 3-1 victory over Bangwe All Stars at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.

It was the second straight win for the Central Bankers after registering a 2-0 victory over Chitipa United last week to maintain their 100 percent record.

But in a post-match interview, the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored outfit’s coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda played down the win, saying they will not get carried away “with a few good results”.

He said: “We are still in the early days of a long and winding journey and it’s important that we keep up the momentum and never lose focus.”

After a goalless first half, Mponda made a tactical substitution, introducing Zebron Kalima for Gift Chunga and it paid off for the hosts, who started playing with flair and verve.

It, therefore, didn’t come as a surprise when they took the lead in the 52nd minute through Binwell Katinji from a rebound after Adiel Kaduya’s earlier attempt bounced off the post.

Eleven minutes later, Silver doubled the lead through Kaduya after Katinji had done the spade work, beating the visitors’ defence with ease before setting up the former, who did the rest to perfection.

Silver scored the third through Charles Chipala in the 83rd minute, barely four minutes after being introduced for Kaduya.

But Blantyre-based Bangwe All Stars didn’t give up and claimed their consolation goal in the third minute of added time through Patrick Phiri’s 30-metre drive. However, it was too little, too late.

Bangwe All Stars coach Christopher Nyambose said his charges lost the plot in the second half.

“Our biggest problem was transition from midfield going upfront. We also created some chances in the first half and in the end, we paid for failing to make them count,” he said.

At Mulanje Park Stadium, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers chalked their first victory with a 3-0 win over rookies Fomo FC.

After being frustrated in the first half, which ended goalless, the Lali Lubani Road outfit engaged an extra gear in the second half to score three goals within five minutes.

Felix Zulu drew first blood in the 49th minute to calm the nerves in the blue side of town before Wisdom Mpinganjira doubled the lead two minutes later.

And as the Nomads fans were still celebrating the goal, Peter Cholopi claimed the third to ensure that their first full points were in the bag.

In another match, the Nomads are now fourth with four points from two matches.

Newcomers Creck Sporting Club registered their second straight win after beating Moyale Barracks 3-2.

The Lilongwe-based rookies are tied on points with leaders Silver, but are separated by goal difference.

In third place are Mzuzu City Hammers also with six points, having won both their matches.

In another match at Karonga Stadium, Chitipa United thumped Karonga United 4-0 at Karonga Stadium.