BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE IN MHONDORO-NGEZI
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . . . . . (1)3
CRANBORNE BULLETS . . . . . . . (0)1
STRIKER Delic Murimba scored a second half brace to help hosts Ngezi Platinum Star end a three match winless run at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
McDonald Makuwe had opened the scores with a brilliant first half strike while Cranborne, who suffered their fifth defeat of the season, pulled one back late in the game courtesy of a Derick Bonnah own goal.
It was the Ghanaian defender’s second own goal in successive games after he beat his own goalkeeper in last week’s defeat to Triangle.
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Ngezi Platinum have struggled to win matches since the controversial departure of former coach Rodwell Dhlakama, recording two draws and one defeat.
Thus, Ngezi Platinum caretaker coach Takesure Chiragwi was relieved after his first victory in four attempts.
“If I say I am not happy I think somewhere, somehow I have a big problem. I am happy that these guys fought very hard to get the three points. I am happy with the way they applied their tactical understanding,” he said.
The match offered very little in terms of entertainment at the start until the 25th minute when Mukuwe broke the deadlock, rifling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box after a lay on by captain Qadr Amini.
From there onwards it was the visitors, who threw caution to the wind and piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.
Bullets finished the stronger of the two teams as they went all out in search of an equaliser
Nelson Chadya needed to be at his best to turn Tinotenda Meke’s effort round the post from point blank after a mistake at the back by Bonnah.
Cranborne Bullets started the second half on a high with Keith Mutandagari beating Chadya, but the ball cannoned off the upright post and out for a goal kick.
But it was Murimba who controlled and stubbed home from close range a low Amini cross following a counter attack initiated by talismanic midfielder Denver Mukamba soon after the hour mark.
Murimba completed his brace with a simple tap in after getting to the end of Mukamba’s square ball to effectively end the match as a contest 19 minutes from time.
The visitors kept on creating, but failed to convert the chances.
But the consolation goal would eventually come in the final minute of the game when Bonnah turned Kingsley Mureremba’s cross into his own net.