adminTamirepi had gone for three games at home without notching a win dating back to their last match before the mid-season break when they lost 0-2 to Buffaloes.
Thereafter, the Gweru-based side had goalless draws against Monomotapa and FC Platinum.
The win was also Hardbody’s first at home since 6 May when the busmen defeated Chicken Inn by the same margin after Callisto Maheya’s solitary strike saw the busmen winning their second game in this campaign.
Tamirepi who had admitted that pressure was mounting for the team to win at home was full of praise for his lads and said the win would instill confidence to fight relegation ahead of their next match against Caps United who are in unfamiliar territory as they are also fighting relegation.
The home team made their intentions clear as early as the seventh minute when Owen Motsi’s effort missed the upright after being set up by Marlvern Nyakabangwe.
Six minutes later the former Chapungu winger hit the upright from a corner kick but the effort hit the post and with Tapiwa Marime, the Quelaton shot stopper beaten Richard Jongwe’s header from the rebound went agonisingly over the bar.
Quelaton tried to claw back into the match and could have found the breakthrough in the 19th minute when Maclive Phiri’s full-bloodied shot was parried over the bar for a corner kick by Alexander “Marabha” Useni in goal for the busmen. The resultant corner kick almost resulted in a goal but Timothy January was denied by the woodwork.
Teams
Hardbody: Alexander Useni, Joan Mangiza, Brian Juru, Andrew Chuma, Malvern Nyakabangwe (Maheya 64th minute), Jacob Muzvokomba, Stephen Alimenda, Roy Useni, Irvine Mugwamba, Richard Jongwe (Nhlanhla Ncube 80th minute), Owen Motsi (Clifford Nyoni 42nd minute)
Quelaton: Tapiwa Marime, Wilberforce Chirumba, Sikhumbulani Dube, Zibusiso Sibanda, Zibusiso Dambo (Mpumelelo Moyo 47th minute), Gracious Mleya, Mhleli Sibanda, Tatenda Magaisa (Phakamani Dube 47th minute), Mclive Phiri, Timothy January, Simba Manwere
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter