adminSubstitute Callisto Maheya, who scored in the last two league games, came as a replacement and gave Hardbody the lead in the 77th minute with a simple tap from a cross from Richard Jongwe, who also came in as a substitute for Irvine Mugwamba.
Once again the Gweru-based side’s lapse in concentration in the dying stages of the game cost them maximum points as what happened in their last league match against Caps United when they conceded a goal in the 90th minute to lose 1-2 in a match they could have shared the spoils.
For that they paid dearly when Chando Kupisa’s Ishmael Lawe who was unattended in the box took advantage of a goalmouth melee to fire a volley which beat “Watosvorwa” goalie, Alexander Useni all systems out to ensure that Gunners took a valuable point to the capital.
The match started at a slow pace with little goalmouth action to write home about and was made worse by Bulawayo referee, Happy Mabhena, who made some questionable decisions.
The only meaningful chance of the first half came in the 32nd minute when Lawe’s flashing header went over the bar after a receiving a fine cross from Tapiwa Mangezi.
Gunners thought they had surged ahead in the 60th minute when William Gumbo headed another cross from Mangezi but his effort was ruled offside.
With the match seemingly headed for a stalemate the hosts coach, Godfrey Tamirepi made some tactical changes taking out Malvern Nyakabangwe who had a quiet game and Mugwamba for Maheya and Jongwe in the 65th minute and 75th minute respectively.
The move almost paid dividends when Maheya almost made his presence felt seconds after coming in heading Cornilius Simango’s cross over the bar.
The former Hardbody skipper came back to haunt Gunners twelve minutes later after Jongwe roasted two defenders inside the box before squaring the ball to Maheya who had the easiest of tasks just to tuck it into the nets.
The goal awakened Gunners from their deep slumber as they took the game to their opponents but could not find a breakthrough.
With Hardbody fans who had started blurring vuvuzelas smelling victory, Lawe disrupted the hosts’ party when he took advantage of a goalmouth melee to fire a volley that left the opposition supporters astounded.
Conrad Nyambabvu, the home side’s assistant coach, conceded that his team had played badly.
“It is now becoming a norm that we lose our advantage at such crucial stages but we tried to make some adjustments which changed the game and that was the best we could offer. Still we could not get a result,” Nyambabvu said.
Gunners coach, Moses “Bambo” Chunga also shared Nyambabvu’s sentiments on the team’s performance but was happy with the pont.
“We were not in it today, but for a team to come back from behind to force a draw is commendable. Under such circumstances a draw is fine for me,” said Bambo.
Meanwhile, in Harare, Blue Rangers bagged crucial points when they beat fellow struggling side Quelaton 3-1 in a match played at Gwanzura yesterday.
Rangers, one place above basement side Quelaton, are now a point behind Hardbody and Gunners who have 19 points and shared spoils in a goalless stalemate at Ascot.
It was Rangers’ fourth win this season and goals from Tigere Muparaganda (20th minute), Norest Mukwezvaramba (28th minute) and David Temwanjira’s 79th minute strike did the trick for the hosts.
Quelaton, who continue to sink deeper into relegation by each passing game, scored their consolation goal through the boot of Simba Manwere who came from the bench to head into the nets but could not salvage something from this tie.
Rangers coach Partson Ndabambi was happy to pick up points ahead of the clash against giants CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
“We wanted to catch up with teams in the relegation zone and desperately wanted this win. And we are now at par with other teams. At this rate we will survive. Playing against CAPS United is a motivation, the players know it is a platform to market themselves. They (CAPS United) have started winning but we have also been playing well and it should be an exciting game and everyone should come and watch,” said Ndabambi.
Quelaton coach Farai Sibanda conceded that relegation bells are tolling louder for his charges.
“I think our guys lost it mentally and not physically. They didn’t play our normal game, the whole first half, everyone was low. At least in the second half after giving them two or three words they tried to move, tried to pass it was a little better but they relapsed.
“Now it’s showing relegation signs, it is really showing and we are now showing relegation symptoms,” said Sibanda.
Indeed, the Bulawayo side, which gave Dynamos a torrid time to lose the Mbada Diamonds Cup match in a penalty shootout, were a shadow of the team which charmed neutrals at Rufaro last week.
In Mutare, Buffaloes failed to complete a double over a determined Harare City in an entertaining yet goalless match played at Sakubva Stadium.
Saul Chaminuka’s men got the better of fellow Premiership debutants by a solitary goal in the reverse fixture but the script was a bit different yesterday when both teams rose to the occasion, played an entertaining brand of attacking football but somehow both lacked precision in front of goal.
However, the Mutare soldiers dominated play for the greater part of the first half but were just unlucky not to have broken the deadlock and allowed the Harare Municipality side to creep back into the game.
Inspired by the mercurial instincts of exciting midfielder Nathan Ziwini, Harare City were full value for the point they walked away with from Sakubva and they almost hit the nets in the 36th minute but Ziwini unnecessarily tipped his effort over bar in a goalkeeper-to-beat situation.
Online Reporter