GEM BOYS EDGE BOSSO

Ray Bande in MUTARE

Manica Diamonds……………………………………….(1) 1

Highlanders……………………………………………..(0) 0

MANICA Diamonds edged Highlanders in this Castle Lager Premiership match at Sakubva yesterday.

Coming into this encounter, the two sides were tied on 44 points.

The hosts surged ahead early in the sixth minute after Kelvin Gwao headed home a cross from Micheal Tapera.

Highlanders showed determination to restore parity as they enjoyed more ball possession but, somehow, a goal remained elusive.

The closest they came to finding the net was in the ninth minute when Never Rauzhi was set up by Gillian Nyathi but goalkeeper Godfrey Chitsumba summoned all his reflexes to parry his blistering shot over the crossbar.

Bosso also came close to equalising in the 78th minute but a well-taken Andrew Mbeba free-kick hit the upright and rolled out of play.

Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera, was not happy with his team’s performance in the early stages of the match.

“In the first 20 minutes, we did not play well even though that was the time we got a goal. We then managed to pick ourselves up to hold on to our lead,” he said.

“The good thing is that we managed to get an early goal. I really thank my players for that. The good thing about playing against a team like Highlanders is that the players feel motivated naturally because this is a big team.

“It was just not their day.”

Bosso coach, Kelvin Kaindu, blamed the defeat on his team’s failure to convert the numerous scoring opportunities they created.

“I think we played well, applied ourselves well but somehow failed to get a goal. We created a lot of chances, got more corner kicks than our opponents, but we just could not score.

“That is the nature of the game.”