Highlanders . . . . . .. . . (2) 4 Shabanie Mine . . . . . . (0) 1
HIGHLANDERS came out with guns blazing, scoring four past Shabanie Mine to register their first win of the season in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Bosso were awarded two penalties by referee Bekezela Makeka with both being converted by goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya in the eighth and 42nd minutes. Knox Mutizwa added the third in 58th minute while Milton Ncube scored in the dying minutes of the match. Shabanie got their consolation goal through Lewis Matawu.
Bosso had gone five matches without scoring and they played a goalless draw against Chapungu in their opening match of the season.
Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri said they were out played but questioned the referee’s decision to award the former league champions two penalties.
“We wereout played in the first half of the match. However the two goals in the first half were dubious. Those were not penalties. In the second half we told the players that we have nothing to lose they should keep fighting. I had to make an injury-inspired substitution in the first half, but that is when all our plans went wrong. We moved Lewis Matawu into the centre because he has more experience and he did well, but he was a bit slow,” said Phiri.
An elated Bosso assistant coach Mark Mathe said it was good that they had scored.
“It was a good outing for us and it is positive that we scored four goals. In the friendlies and the first game that we played the goals were elusive. In the second half of the match we took our foot off the pedal and we lost concentration. I am still to ascertain on his (Gabriel Nyoni) condition, but all I know is that he could not continue playing,” said Mathe.
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Highlanders led as early as the eighth minute when Shabanie Mine’s Smart Muchabaiwa, while trying to clear Ncube’s cross handled inside the box.
Diya, who seems to be Bosso’s trusted penalty taker, sent his opposite number Victor Twaliki the wrong way.
In the 42nd minute Makeka pointed to the spot for the second time after Hardlife Mavundi hacked down Ncube inside the box.
Ncube had received a cross from Mutizwa who troubled the Shabanie defence throughout the day.
Diya stepped up to the plate and again sent Twaliki diving the wrong way.
Thirteen minutes into the second half Mutizwa scored when Ncube beat his marker Rodney Mware to square the ball to an on-the-run Mutizwa who shot in the third for the former league champions.
Shabanie pulled one back through Matawu after he shot from just outside the box with Diya failing to collect.
About a minute into extra time Ncube added the fourth goal following a well taken corner by substitute Ndiweni. Thandiwe Moyo Sports Correspondent
