Gunners ease Buffaloes

Castle Lager Premier­ship soccer match at Sakubva yesterday.
Buffaloes were their own worst ene­mies as they failed to convert the numerous scoring chances they created. Saul Chaminuka’s charges took the lead in the 17th minute after man-of-the-match Lloyd Katongomara connected home captain Dananai Chinowawa’s cross.
The visitors restored parity 10 min­utes later after Munyaradzi Chiwara took advantage of a lapse in concentra­tion on the part of the Buffaloes’ defenders and fired home a blistering shot. Gunners second half substitute Charles Makuruva released a scorcher from close-range as he propelled his team into the lead with his first touch of the ball in the 70th minute.
Five minutes later, Rusape-based ref­eree Robert Mugorosa awarded a penalty to the army team after Gunners defender Fungai Chirinda was adjudged to have deliberately handled a goalbound shot. He was sent off.
Gunners’ players and coaches furi­ously protested against the referees’ seemingly harsh decision and the match was temporarily stopped as they walked off the pitch and it only took the team director Cuthbert Chitima’s inter­vention for them to return to the field of play. When play resumed, up-stepped Dananai Chinowawa who made no mistake as he sent Gunners goalminder Prosper Chigumba the wrong direc­tion.
After the match, Buffaloes’ coach Chaminuka said, “I think we failed to find the target on numerous occasions and I feel our strikeforce was not play­ing its usual role.
His opposite number, Thanks Tengwe said, “Everyone saw that we could have won this match had it not been the decision by the referee to award a dubious penalty.”

Teams
Buffaloes: H. Bere, P. Alfasi, D. Chinowawa, T. Ndlovu, K. Thembani, M. Waerera, P. Bamusi (P. Mudau 85th minute), E. Dzumbunu (S. Nkata 62nd minute), N. Musvipa (M. Dumbura 60th minute), B. Chirere, L. Katongomara.
Gunners: P. Chigumba, B. Sande, M. Demera, F. Chirinda, F. Madora (M. Muchenje 86th minute), L. Fiyado, B. Madzokere, P. Chinungwa, H. Zirekwi, W. Gondo, M. Chiwara (C. Makuruva 65th minute).