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From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange . . . . . . . . .  . . . 0
Chicken Inn . . . . . . .(1) 1
CHICKEN INN refused to be used as a dinner feast for the coalminers after the Gamecocks handed Hwange their first home defeat of the season after the two sides clashed in a Castle Lager Premier League soccer tie at the Colliery yesterday. Fresh from a famous and wildly celebrated 1-0 victory over defending champions Dynamos at the same venue last weekend, the coalminers had a poor show by their standards, especially in the opening half.

At the end of the day, a solitary goal by Thomas Chimenya in the 19th minute left the Hwange fans shell-shocked as they expected their heroes to continue with their blistering form and lay a big foundation for their title onslaught.

The goal came after veteran Clemence Matawu made a darting run on the right flank before releasing Ishmael Lawe whose first time cross was blasted home by the on-rushing Chimenya.

Hwange goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda remained rooted on the same spot as the volley hit the roof of the nets.
Before the opener, the hosts had their celebrations cut short in the 4th minute when Gilbert Zulu’s header was disallowed by Bulawayo-based referee Philani Ncube who adjudged that the striker used his hand to push the ball into the nets as he went airborne.

Zulu was shown a yellow card for his troubles by referee Ncube, who infuriated the Hwange fans the whole afternoon with some of his questionable decisions.

It was the visitors who had an opening minute threat at goal which was smothered by young Hwange defender Phakamani Dube who made a desperate sliding tackle to prevent Lawe from pulling the trigger.

After the Chicken Inn goal, Hwange tried without success to break down the robust visitors’ defence which was well marshalled by Brian Juru and Moses Jackson.

The absence of midfield kingpin Rodwell Chinyengetere, who is in South Africa with an unnamed club for trials, affected the coalminers’ rhythm as they struggled with their game, especially in the opening half.

Ten minutes from the breather, Hwange’s Farai Vimisai blew a chance that could have seen his side going on level terms with the visitors when he broke loose on the right flank only to hurry his shot which went miles off target instead of releasing the ball to Gilbert Zulu and Alec Marime who were well positioned in the box.

Moments after Vimisai’s error of judgment, Chimenya almost grabbed a brace when he was acres of space inside the box only for his glancing header to miss the target by a few inches.

Chipangano had a big shout for a penalty just before half-time when defender Juru appeared to have handled an Evans Rusike goal-bound effort but the referee waved away their protests.

The hosts came back from the breather a changed side with veteran striker Zulu miscuing his effort from inside the box after he had cleverly shaken off a double challenge by Juru and Lawrence Mhlanga.

Sensing that the afternoon was fast turning into a nightmare, Hwange head coach Nation Dube made a double substitution in the 65th minute, bringing in speed merchant Tafara Chese and Newman Sianchali for Vimisai and Zulu respectively.
The move changed Hwange’s attacking tempo as the coalminers pinned Chicken Inn inside their own half.

In the 77th minute Isaac Masame forced a brilliant save from Gamecocks’ goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze who went airborne to tip Masame’s scorching effort out for a corner.

From the resultant corner, defender Gerald Ndlovu thought he had grabbed the all-important equaliser for Hwange but again Chipezeze produced another top drawer save to frustrate the hosts.

A curling corner by Eric Chipeta deep into injury time with the goalkeeper well beaten summed up a miserable afternoon for coalminers who huffed and puffed for nothing especially in the last quarter of the game.

Coach Nation Dube was seething with fury directed at the match referee whom he labelled a “man on a mission”.