Silver Strikers yesterday displaced fellow capital city outfit Blue Eagles from the FDH Bank Premiership summit after thrashing Red Lions of Zomba 3-0 at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
However, the going proved tough for Blantyre-based heavyweights Mighty Wanderers, whose ambitions were frustrated by table anchors and hosts Goshen City Dedza Dynamos. The Nomads had to come from behind to force a one-all draw at Dedza Stadium.
In Lilongwe, Silver put up a dominant display with Innocent Shema hitting a first-half brace within a space of two minutes and Festus Duwe completing the rout with a second-half strike.
The victory means the Central Bankers, topflight league champions in 2024, have moved two places to lead the 16-team logtable with 17 points, a point ahead of Eagles, who are now second, and two points better than third-placed Wanderers.
“We are excited to be on top of the table but we will not relax because the league is tough,” said Silver assistant coach Mapopa Msukwa.
Before yesterday’s fixtures, Silver and Wanderers, the reigning champions, were tied on 14 points but the Nomads had a superior goal difference.
In Dedza, Wanderers survived a scare to salvage a point as Dynamos stabbed early in the 20th minute and maintained the lead for 50 more minutes. The Nomads heaved a sigh of relief in the 71st minute when Blessings Mwalilino scored to restore parity.
Wanderers’ coach Bob Mpinganjira said he was disappointed to register a successive draw and drop four points in two games as they also recently settled for another one-all draw against Ekhaya FC.
“This was a very difficult game for us. We were second on the ball in the first half and we were punished for that. All the same, we will strive to win our next game,” he said.
In other games yesterday, Ekhaya FC beat Mafco FC 1-0 at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre to move to fouth spot with 14 points. Civil Service United registered a similar win against Creck Sporting at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji. Karonga United and Moyale Barracks drew goalless at Karonga Stadium.
