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With little action in the first half Buffaloes settled earlier and they took the game to the hosts.
The army side, who had the upper hand, were rewarded in the 40th minute when Mageja headed home from a corner.
A combination between Prosper Matizanadzo and Dananai Chinowawa resulted in a blistering shot by Phillip Thembani, which was tossed over the bar by Clayton Dombo in goals for the hosts.
The resultant corner was taken in by Thembani and was met with a flashing header by Mageja, which gave Dombo no chance.
The first half started with little action as both teams tried to settle down but the visitors managed to win the midfield battle.
Gunners’ meaningful chance in the first half came after 33 minutes when Ishmael Lawe tried to connect a pass from Ndaba but missed the target by a few metres.
The second half saw gunners coming back into the game but they took time to substitute Tapiwa Mangezi who was completely out of the game.
Mangezi, who was playing wide on the right, could not complement the effort by Tapiwa Dephistara who was taking the Buffaloes defence at will.
The introduction of Never Musvipa after the scorer was injured brought some life in the Buffaloes attack, which had gone to sleep.
Musvipa managed to hit the upright with a header after a free kick at the edge of the box by Chinowawa.
The goal scramble saw gunners break through and launch a counter-attack but Hopeful Bere, in goals for Buffaloes, was equal to the task.
After the game Buffaloes assistant coach Sicho Masachi said he was happy to collect maximum points away from home.
“All we needed was a goal and we managed to score one goal which we managed to defend until the final whistle,” Masachi said.
“The game was tough but we utilised our chance and that is what Buffaloes are good at.
“Three points away from home makes a big difference. We are very happy.
“We were just unlucky not to get two goals as we hit the post two times.
“We now look forward to the Mbada games as we have all the support from Mutare,” Masachi said.
Gunners head coach Moses Chunga believes it was not just their day and promised to go and work on their strike force.
“It was a good game, we just need to work on our shooting and we will fight to the end.
“The tactical change was good and it brought some emergency into the attack,” Chunga said.
Teams
Gunners: C Dombo, W Kamudyariwo, M Muchenje, I Lawe, J Jangano, V Ndaba (Chiwara 83), T Mangezi (Gondo 80), B Sande, T Dephistara, O Machingura.
Buffaloes: H Bere, D Chinowawa, M Mageja, P Matizanadzo, T Ndlovu, K Thembani (Chirere), M Wayerera, P Bamusi (Nkata 77), R Mwenga, S Muchabaya, P Thembani.
Shabanie beat Hwange again
From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
Shabanie Mine…………………………………………………(0) 2
Hwange……………………………………………………………(0) 1
SHABANIE Mine completed a double over Hwange when they collected maximum points in a Castle Lager Premiership match played at Maglas Stadium yesterday.
Shabanie, who beat the coal miners at the Colliery with goals from double scorer Nelson Maziwisa, Caleb Masocha and Lennon Chisunga, could have won by a wider margin had they utilised their first half chances.
On the other hand Shabanie failed to utilise a number of corner kicks that Hwange conceded.
Shabanie were shot into the lead by veteran midfielder Tafadzwa Mombeshora in the 48th minute. A corner kick by Erea Phiri was blocked onto the path of young Blessed Mbavarira who was at the edge of the box and the defender reacted with a stinger that the Hwange goalminder tipped over the bar for another corner kick.
Phiri again flighted another cross that saw the gangly Mombeshora using his height advantage to place the ball past Sibanda with a firm header.
After the goal former Shabanie Mine striker Tongai Mamina played mind games when he raced to the bench and took some salt which he gave to all the Hwange players and this somehow disturbed the Shabanie camp.
Hwange then equalised through Malvern Longwe. Winston Mhango won the ball on the right and flighted a harmless looking ball to Longwe and his shot was fumbled by goalkeeper Victor Twaliki to give the coal miners some hope in the 70th minute.
Shabanie, who wanted maximum points, then scored again through the right boot of Pervington Zimunya seven minutes after the Hwange equaliser.
They won a freekick at the edge of the box and the former Masvingo hitman took the responsibility.
He curled in a beauty that went past the Hwange wall into the left side of the nets and the Hwange goalie never moved an inch and could only collect the ball from the back of the nets.
After the match head coach Nation Dube felt let down by the match officials.
“We lost to the referees and that is my comment nothing more,” he said.
His counterpart Luke Masomere was very happy with the results.
“Hwange played very well and they have a very good team that plays very well away from home. I was impressed with the performance of my team which managed to collect all the six points against the coal miners,” he said
The Kwekwe-based referee who seemed to be in control of the match flashed nine yellow cards, four to Shabanie Mine players Masocha, Mombeshora, Zimunya and Tarisayi Rukanda with Chinyengetere, Sibanda, Ocean Mpofu, Munyaradzi Mungadze and Mhango of Hwange also getting into the referees black book.
Teams:
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki, B Mbavarira, R Mware, P Sithole, E Phiri, G Mchiwa (C Masocha 86th minute), R Sibanda, T Mombeshora, N Maziwisa, T Rukanda, P Zimunya.
Hwange: T Sibanda, M Mungadze, D Boriwondo, O Mpofu, R Chinyengetere, G Zulu (T Mareya 29th minute), W Mhango, T Mamina, M Longwe, G Ndlovu, A Katebe.
Black Mambas hold Motor Action
Harare Bureau
Motor Action………………………………………………………..2
Black Mambas…………………………………………………..…2
MOTOR Action had to be satisfied with a draw in their Castle Lager Premiership league match against Black Mambas as the latter grabbed a last-minute goal to equalise at Motor Action Sports Club.
The Mighty Bulls enjoyed most of the match as they created more chances. However, silly mistakes in the defence saw them conceding a goal in the 60th minute and a penalty deep into injury time.
The former champions were the first to score 10 minutes into the game when Merciful Ncube headed the ball into the back of the net after receiving a cross from Protash Kabwe.
Morris Kadzola could have made it two for the Mighty Bulls when they were awarded a penalty by referee Batsirai Muchenje in the 45th minute after Tendai Chinungo handled the ball inside the box but Kadzola missed.
Two minutes into the second half Mishek Mburayi weighed in with the second goal when he scored from close range. The Mighty Bulls seemed to be heading for a victory but it was not yet over as Black Mambas replied through substitute Edmore Chitato in the 60th minute.
Chitato received a pass from Last Chibwiro who stole the ball from Kadzola who was playing around with the ball in their own half.
Their second goal came from Chibwiro in the fifth minute of added time through a penalty. Chibwiro was awarded a penalty after he was brought down by Blessing Chimwamuchere inside the box.
Black Mambas’ assistant coach, Martin Bonongwe was a happy man after the game. “I think at the end of the season the point we gained today might be crucial,” he said.
Motor Action coach, Joey Antipas was not impressed with his team’s performance as he said they should have collected maximum points.
“I think we should have walked away with maximum points. We collapsed, failed at tactical discipline in the end where our defenders should have just soaked up the pressure but they were going forward and that contributed to the collapse,” said Antipas.
Teams
Motor Action: J. Bernard, B. Chimwamuchere, Y. Ebabani (F. Ncube 78minutes), P. Kabwe, M. Kadzola, I. Masame, M. Mburayi, G. Moyo, R. Mudimu, M. Ncube, E. Tembo.
Black Mambas: T. Mateyaunga, B. Chirimanzi, G. Chikweva, K. Chimbadzwa, N. Alifandika, T. Chinugo, P. Khumalo (G. Mangani 78minutes), B. Nyahunzvi, T. Ngwena (E. Chitato 56minutes), L. Chibwiro, T. Muswere.
Online Reporter