Gunners fire on

Moses Chunga’s youth brigade powered to another important win over Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Maglas yesterday.
Despite finishing a man down, Gunners put on a polished display at Maglas with Lloyd Masakusi and Leonard Fiyado finding the target either side of the break while Kudzanayi Kwashi pulled one back for the hosts.
Masakusi was, however, later sent off for a second bookable offence.
Gunners took the lead after just 30 seconds when Ali Sadiki, who was enjoying his game on the left side, dispossessed Rowan Nenzou in the Shabanie half and quickly crossed the ball to Fiyado who made no mistake from close range to beat Roy Mazingi.
Five minutes after the break Masakusi got to the end of Mitchell Katsvairo’s effort to increase his side’s lead.
Masakusi was, however, elaborate with is celebration.
The former Lengthens forward ran and scaled the perimeter fence, celebrating in front of the home crowd and Mutare-based referee Lazarus Dirwai, who had earlier on cautioned the player, showed him another yellow and the subsequent red card.
Soon after the incident, action swung from one end to the other and fans were given real value for their money in a match in which probably a draw could have been the fairest result.
Michael Mageja, who played his heart out against his former team, could have equalised for the hosts in the eighth minute but he failed to beat the in-form Prosper Chigumba, shooting straight into the goalkeeper’s hands after being sent through by midfielder Nenzou.
Nenzou, the hero of Shabanie’s mid-week win last week, had a subdued game yesterday and this did not help matters as fans whistled for him to be substituted.
Mageja again failed to beat the Gunners goalkeeper in the 20th minute when he failed to do justice to a Caleb Masocha cross following good work from Nenzou but with a yawning goal in front he directed his effort to the skies.
After the miss it was Gunners’ turn to send an effort begging when Masakusi was spotted in the box by Hardlife Zirekwi in the 37th minute but when it looked easier to score than to miss he sent his effort wide.
A minute later the youthful Gunners sent another chance begging with only the goalkeeper to beat.
This time the culprit was Moses Muchenje who blasted Muvindi’s effort to the skies.
After the attempt Shabanie piled on the pressure but it really showed that Chunga has taught his players all the tricks in the book.
Shabanie were a rejuvenated side after the break with Lennon Chisunga in command in the middle. Two minutes after the breather the former Mhangura midfielder won possession and dribbled past Pardon Chinungwa before setting up Mageja but the harder he tried the more he missed the target as he, again, shot wide.
The asbestos miners got their goal when former FC Victoria striker Kwashi headed in a cross in the box from Mageja, finally beating an otherwise impressive Chigumba who had been the stumbling block for Shabanie.
The miners could have easily had a share of the spoils but each time they tried to get an equaliser Chigumba was just too good for them.
Substitute Artwell Nyoni could have drawn Shabanie level in the 79th minute but he headed a cross from Kwashi over the bar with the goalkeeper at his mercy.
At the end of the match Chunga raced onto the pitch to join his charges in celebration and thanking the fans who were rallying behind him.
Shabanie will, however, feel robbed when they were denied what looked like a penalty in the 77th minute when Chinungwa handled under pressure but the referee ignored their appeals.
It was the same referee who handled their tie against Shooting Stars two weeks ago in Mutare and the Chinda Boys were not happy with the way he handled the game alleging he was biased towards the Wild Boys.
But for Chunga it was another good day in the office.
“I won against all odds. Conditions were very difficult for me and I think the referee should emulate people like Ruzive Ruzive.
“He had no watch and some of his decisions were not good,” Chunga said.
His counterpart Luke Masomere conceded defeat.
“It was bad for us. We played badly in the first half but had a good second half performance and failed to convert our chances.
“Every dog has its day and I hope we will get it right in our next game. I urge fans to remain calm and we will survive relegation together,” Masomere said.
TEAMS:
Shabanie Mine: R Mazingi, S Shoko, C Masocha, R Nenzou (A Nyoni 58th ),B Dimanji, J Chisunga (J Chitereki 74th ), K Kwaswhi, M Mageja, R Mware, W Ngonya, T Mombeshora
Gunners: P Chigumba, L Masakusi, L Fiyado, M Katsvairo, B Madzokere, P , Chinungwa, H Zvirekwi, M Muchenje (C Sekete 46th ),E Muzvidziwa, M Kunyarimwe, A Sadiki (I Lawe 77th ).