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Shabanie Mine controlled proceedings in the first half and it was no surprise when they surged ahead in the 39th minute through the country’s leading marksman, Nelson Maziwisa who took his goal tally to 17.
The hosts, inspired by slippery winger Nhlanhla Ncube who had come in for Owen Motsi three minutes before the breather came back all guns blazing in the second half and levelled terms in the 55th minute through the former, who in a moment of individual brilliance roasted two Shabanie Mine defenders before unleashing a scorcher from close range which the visitors’ goalie, Roy Mazingi, could do nothing to prevent it going into the nets.
“Watosvorwa” were left cursing their gods as they failed to convert their dominance into goals and unlike Shabanie who left Ascot content with the point, the point did little to move the home team out of the danger zone as they are still languishing in the murky waters of relegation with twenty-three points.
With four matches remaining before the curtain comes down to the season, the T and H Transport sponsored side will have to face Highlanders and Dynamos at home — teams which are in the running for the championship, and two away matches against Black Mambas and Hwange, both who are equally haunted by relegation. Only a Houdini act will see Hardbody surviving the dreaded chop.
After failing to convert many chances which came the visitors’ way, with the main culprit being Farai Mususunye who missed three glorious chances the onus fell on Maziwisa after some clever play by Roy Sibanda who collected the ball in his own half and found an unmarked Mususunye.
The latter cleverly flicked the ball to Maziwisa who beat the challenge of Hillary Gravel before firing to a badly exposed Hardbody goalkeeper, Ashley Rayners.
Coming from the breather a more purposeful side, Hardbody levelled proceedings when skipper Brian Juru released Nhlanhla on the right flank who left Boniface Dimanji and Smart Muchabaiwa for dead before firing from close range to send fans into delirium.
The goal seemed to have spurred the home team who had numerous chances which came their way but lack of precision in front of goal cost them.
Hardbody’s most glorious chance to collect maximum points came in the 82nd minute when Richard Jongwe was set up by Callisto Maheya before dribbling past two defenders and squaring the ball which needed a simple tap in but could not find any takers in the box.
A visibly disappointed Hardbody assistant coach, Ndawana Dube said lack of precision in front of goal cost them the match.
“We are disappointed with the result because we should have collected all the points but we did not convert our chances. We now need at least six points from our remaining matches to survive relegation,” he said.
Elvis Muya, the Chinda Boys assistant coach was equally disappointed for letting the hosts come back into the match.
“We were in control of the match but we allowed them to come back into the game. Anyway the result is not that bad,” Muya said.
Hardbody: A Rayners, J Mangiza, B Juru, A Chuma, M Nyakabangwe (C Maheya 46 min), J Muzokomba (R Jongwe 70 min), S Alimenda, R Useni, H Gravel, P Manhope, O Motsi (N Ncube 42 min)
Shabanie Mine: R Mazingi, P Sithole, S Muchabaiwa, P Mudenha (F Kanda 83 min) T Mombeshora, B Dimanji, R Sibanda, N Maziwisa, E Phiri (C Masocha 85 min), P Zimunya, F Mususunye.
Online Reporter