SIMBA BHORA . . . . . . (1) 1
BIKITA MINERALS . . . . . . . 0
SIMBA Bhora opened a four-point lead at the top of the log after beating a battling Bikita Minerals at their Wadzanai fortress in Shamva yesterday.
Walter Musona's superb curling effort from just outside the penalty box on 32nd minute was all the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached side needed to maintain their top spot on the log standings.
It was Musona's ninth goal of the season after he also netted the winner against Bulawayo Chiefs last week.
The team's skipper put yet another flawless display to justify his selection in the Warriors' squad for next week's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon.
With title rivals FC Platinum dropping more points after they were held 1-1 away by Zpc Kariba yeaterday, Simba Bhora are now in full control of the race with nine matches remaining in the season. Four of those matches are at Wadzanai.
Victory also means that the Shamva team preserved their unbeaten run at their home stadium this season.
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Ndiraya's men are now on 50 points while FC Platinum who needed a last minute equaliser in Kariba, trail on 46 points.
For a team that battled relegation in their debut season in the top-flight last year, their current position excites Ndiraya.
The former Dynamos coach who admitted to some prematch nerves, heaped praise on his players for putting in a good shift against a "dangerous" Bikita side who floored FC Platinum last week.
"From now on all the matches are going to be difficult so the message was very clear to the boys... once we scored what was important was to manage the game and the boys did it well," Ndiraya said.
"Credit should go to the boys for this perfomance. In the end, I'm happy that we managed to win. We lost to Bikita in the first round of matches and because of what they did to FC Platinum last week, we were a bit afraid before the match. They are dangerous and we thought they would come and do it again here, but we were solid. Once we scored, we never looked like we would concede. It was a good perfomance from the boys and what is helping us is the experience in the team."
Bikita Minerals coach Arnold Jani also praised his team although he felt his boys got a raw deal from the match officials.
The visitors had a big shout for a penalty late on after goalkeeper Talbert Shumba appeared to hack a Bikita Minerals player from behind with his hands in an attempt to clear a loose ball inside the box. "It's a defeat to us which is difficult to take. My team played well in spite of the result and whatever happened on the pitch. I'm happy for the boys," Jani said.
"There was an incident in the penalty box but the main man (referee) did what he did. He knows best so we are not against his decisions because he is the man in charge."
The home side was dominant for the larger parts of the game and created the better chances.
Joint top goal scorer Machope had not scored in the last two games coming into yesterday's game and he continued to fire blanks after getting to an end of some good chances.
The gangly striker was denied twice by Minerals keeper from one-on-one situations in the first half while also heading over from close range.
Chances continued to fall for the home side in the second half with Machope hitting the side netting from a tight angle.
Moments later, Machope found Musona who fed Rolland Kangadze, but his miscued shot was blocked.
Bikita Minerals pushed for an equaliser late on, especially after the introduction of Mutuche and Russel Madamombe, but the home side defence was well marshalled by the young Ishe Mauchi.
Castle Lager Premiership Matchday 25
Fulltime
Yadah 0-2 Ngezi Platinum
Green Fuel 2-2 CAPS United
ZPC Kariba 1-1 FC Platinum
Bulawayo Chiefs 1-1 TelOne
Simba Bhora 1-0 Bikita Minerals
