Gunners stretch lead in Div One THE RACE LEADERS . . . Gunners players pose for a group photo just before their World Navi Northern Region Division One league match against Mushowani Stars at Lafarge yesterday
THE RACE LEADERS . . . Gunners players pose for a group photo just before their World Navi Northern Region Division One league match against Mushowani Stars at Lafarge yesterday

THE RACE LEADERS . . . Gunners players pose for a group photo just before their World Navi Northern Region Division One league match against Mushowani Stars at Lafarge yesterday

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
Gunners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Mushowani Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0
GUNNERS stretched their lead in the World Navi Northern Region Division One soccer league race to five points despite being restricted to a goalless draw by Mushowani Stars at Lafarge yesterday. Their nearest rivals, Flame Lily, crashed to a surprise 0-2 defeat at the hands of Karoi United at Chikangwe. Bindura United also lost at home while Tavaka Gumbo was given a baptism of fire on his return to Chegutu Pirates with a 0-2 defeat at ZRP Morris.
Bottom club Royal Classic showed good fighting qualities as they picked a rare point in a draw against Blue Swallows.

Gunners struggled to impose themselves for most of the game as the visitors matched them man-for-man in a pulsating tie that, however, did not have goals.
The visiting side could have scored just eight minutes into the game but Zivanai Mhanda’s shot from a cross by Tendai Mutandi went over the bar.

In the 26th minute Paul Chiramba’s header was disallowed for offside as the visitors continued to cause problems for the hosts.
Two minutes into the second half Chiramba was back to threaten Gunners again but his effort was cleared by Godwin Goriyati for a corner kick.

Mushowani continued to pile on the pressure, probably knowing that they needed this win more than their hosts, but they could not get the breakthrough that their efforts certainly merited.

In the end it was a big point for Gunners who opened up a five-point lead over Flame Lily who lost to Karoi United at Chikangwe.
Gunners coach, Kuda Masaraure, said this was a point gained.

“I think for our side it’s fine because we have maintained the gap separating us from them (Mushowani), so we are counting them out,” said Masaraure.
“And Flame Lilly lost while we got one point so we are leading by five points.

“Today we did not play our usual game. I think we were affected by the break over the weekend because that’s when our momentum was lost.
“The guys played really well against Flame Lily but we did not have a game over the weekend.

“But I thank God because we did not lose. Mushowani dominated three quarters of the game but they failed to score so I give credit to my boys because they showed character.”
The Gunners coach said he was now targeting their next tie against Blue Swallows this weekend.

“I am not satisfied with the boys’ performance but I salute them because we didn’t play well but we did not concede and we did not lose, so that’s the most important thing,” said Masaraure.

“Our next game we are playing Blue Swallows, we have tomorrow and Friday to correct our mistakes. We were also missing two of our players, captain Tendai Huwa who had three yellow cards and centre striker Munyaradzi Kawara who is injured but I think by Saturday he will be fine.”

Mushowani coach Paul “Popopo”Chimalizeni said it was unfortunate they drew after a dominant display by his in-form men.
“We played very well, especially in the first half. We managed to get a goal and it was disallowed and unfortunately we drew,” said Chimalizeni.

“Maybe it was the fairest result but you find that the first 10 to 20 minutes of the second half we were outclassing them, we could have got a goal but unfortunately we did not.
“But I salute the guys for a good performance,.”

Other Results :
Twalumba 1, Commando 1; Seven Flames 0, DStv Rangers 1; Royal Classic 0, Blue Swallows 0; Gunners 0, Mushowani 0; Karoi United 2, Flame Lilly 0; DC Academy 1, ZRP Football Club 1 (formerly known as Black Mambas); Ngezi Platinum 1, Starbill 0; Bindura 0, Lake Harvest 1; ZRP Morris 2, Chegutu Pirates 0.

Latest Log Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Gunners 25 16 8 1 35 9 56
Flame Lilly 25 15 6 4 25 8 51
Mushowani 25 14 6 5 31 14 48
Bindura United 25 13 6 6 21 15 45
Ngezi Platinum 25 12 6 7 25 13 42
Commando 25 9 11 5 24 18 38
DC Academy 25 9 9 7 24 22 36
DStv Rangers 25 9 7 9 21 20 34
ZRP FC 25 9 6 10 32 20 33
Karoi United 25 9 6 10 25 21 33
ZRP Morris 25 7 11 7 24 18 32
Lake Harvest 25 9 3 13 27 32 30
Seven Flames 25 6 11 8 22 34 29
Starbill 24 8 4 11 22 28 28
Blue Swallows 25 6 7 12 14 19 25
Twalumba 25 4 9 12 12 26 22
Chegutu Pirates 24 6 4 14 12 32 22
Royal Classic 25 2 2 21 11 58 8

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