Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
SHABANIE MINE continued with their revival mission, registering their third successive win with a victory over How Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Maglas Stadium, Zvishavane, yesterday.
By EPHRAIM SHOKO, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Fungai Chirinda’s 27th minute strike and Tafadzwa Mombeshora’s 50th minute header condemned How Mine to their third loss on the trot, leaving coach Philani Mabhena a worried man.
His Shabanie Mine counterpart Luke Masomere revelled in the glory of his team’s third victory in a row and praised his charges for a fantastic performance against the visitors.
“It was a good game and I think the boys played well. We knew how our opponents play and we had a strategy to counter their type of football which we employed and it worked. I think this is a good start to our mission of fighting relegation and we will keep fighting until the very last game of the season,” he said. Mabhena said: “Obviously I am disappointed with the result. This is our third game without picking anything and it is worrisome. I think it’s time we start winning matches and we hope to start doing so when we meet Triangle in our next encounter.”
The match kicked off 15 minutes late after fourth official, Freddy Nyoni, arrived late at the match venue for reasons that could not be immediately established. Shabanie Mine started brightly, showing their intention from the first minute and kept their opponents on the backfoot for the greater part of the first period.
Tarisai Rukanda, who missed a glut of chances throughout the match, could have opened the score as early as the fourth minute when he turned his marker on the edge of the box before releasing a low shot that Pedzisai Gumiremhete, in goals for the visitors, did well to save.
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Shabanie Mine were to be duly rewarded for their relentless probing when they won a corner kick in the 27th minute.
Valentine Ndaba curled in an inviting cross, that Tarisai Rukanda flicked for Chirinda, who was lurking in the box unmarked, to hit the roof of the net from close range for the opener.
How Mine only managed a single shot on target in the first half when Warren Dube shot from long range was kicked out by Victor Twaliki in the 38th minute.
Shabanie Mine continued with their foot on the paddle in the second period and Chirinda could have added another in the 49th minute when he released a stinger from the edge of the box, but Gumiremhete, the busier of the two goalkeepers was equal to the task, tipping it over for a corner-kick.
It is from that corner-kick that Shabanie Mine got their second which virtually sealed the game.
William Ngonya swung in a cross from the left, which found an unmarked Mombeshora to head home the hosts’ second, triggering wild celebrations from the terraces.
