Chronicle Editor
Kasondela Luzibo, Sports Correspondent
WEEK 23 of the ZRP Bulawayo Inter-Stations Soccer League saw a number of interesting match-ups with one of the thrilling games being a five-goal thriller pitting Cowdray Park who emerged 3-2 winners over Magwegwe at Marisha Grounds last Wednesday.
The games started at a high tempo with both teams seemingly chasing for an early goal to settle their nerves. It was the visitors Cowdray Park who would take the early lead through Gcinithemba Dube who managed to shrug off a challenge from Magwegwe skipper Ashley Nyasha and let go a sizzling shot to the far right corner which hit the upright before it went in.
Magwegwe would respond moments later when their top goal scorer Brian Mugandi netted the equaliser from close range after Cowdray Park failed to clear their lines.
Five minutes into the second-half, Brian Mugandi outpaced Magusvi Enos to set himself clear at goal and let go a thunderbolt that gave Komai Gerald no chance at all as all he did was to retrieve the ball at the back of the net.
The goal seemed to have spurred Cowdray Park who kept asking a lot of questions and eventually, they got the equaliser off the boot of their substitute Ronald Manyongori. Zhou Pakatai gave the visitors their third goal which sealed the match.
In other encounters, Entumbane edged Njube by two goals to one, with goals from Frank Shumba and Mgcini Mpofu the league’s leading goal scorer who took his tally to 19, four ahead of Elvis Wilson who is on 15.
The win saw the pacesetters Entumbane open a nine-point gap to have a firm grip on top of the table. Entumbane are comfortable on 52 points, CID second on 43 with Tshabalala third on 42 and Mzilikazi on 41 who leapfrogged PHQ. CID once again disappointed, dropping points yet again after they drew 1-1 with Pumula.
Isaac Mufara and Stewart Gomo scored for Pumula and CID respectively.
Results
Magwegwe 2-3 Cowdray Park, Hillside 0-0 PHQ, Nkulumane 0-3 Saucepark, Mzilikazi 1-0 Byo Central, Pumula 1-1 CID, Khumalo 1-0 Westcom, Entumbane 2-1 Njube, Traffic 3-1 Donnington
Bongani Ndlovu