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The first half was a lifeless affair with neither side showing any teeth apart from an eighth minute snapshot from young Kudakwashe Mahachi which flew across the face of goal in match watched by a handful of spectators.
After the break the match picked its tempo with both teams coming off their first half slumber and Mahachi was in the thick of things again as he combined with Thomas Chimenya on the left flank before sending in an inviting cross that was headed down by Mukambi to leave Ronald Mudimu in goal for the Mighty Bulls rooted in his position without reacting.
The goal stung Motor Action and the visitors started dominating and Jackson Moses made an all important block in the 49th minute after a vicious Isaac Masame volley which had the Game Cocks player seeking medication on the sidelines.
Veteran Norman Maroto tried pushing his old legs to get an equaliser when he made a run from the centre circle combining well with Thembani Masuku before unleashing a low strike that just went wide of the far post.
This was to be the last dance in the match for Maroto and Masuku as their coach Joey Antipas substituted them in the 61st minute and brought in Merciful Ncube and Ishmael Lawe.
The substitutes’ impact was immediate with Ncube sending in a dangerous cross in the 65th minute which Lawe failed to latch onto with Nyoni drawn off his line.
Gift Phiri was the last to try his luck at the Chicken Inn goal with a 75th minute teaser that just missed the top corner of the right upright after the visitors had had a beautiful build-up.
This summed up the second half with the Mighty Bulls dominating but not creating any serious chances while Chicken Inn stood resolute with the impressive Mahachi and captain Felix Chindungwe being the stars on an otherwise bad day in terms of play for the home side.
Adam Ndlovu, the Game Cocks’ gaffer, said he was happy with the three points but conceded that his players did not have their best day on the field.
“I am happy we got the important three points but I have to say the players took their feet off the pedal in the second half and Motor Action started dominating but at the end we won and that is the important thing,” Ndlovu said.
His Motor Action counterpart Antipas congratulated Chicken Inn and said his boys had just been unlucky.
“Congratulations to Chicken Inn who were the lucky side today although after the break we dominated possession but could not bury the chances we created but hey that is football, we have to pick ourselves up for the next match,” Antipas said.
Teams
Chicken Inn: N Nyoni, J Moses, D Phiri, M Ncube (H Dick 63rd minute), T Chimenya (E Chikwaikwai 66th minute), T Mukambi, T Goredema (C Nkomo 46th minute), K Mahachi, G Goddard, B Mbiriri, F Chindungwe.
Motor Action: R Mudimu, G Phiri, J Bernard, B Chiwamuchere, J Sam, R Machaya, I Masame, N Maroto (I Lawe 61st minute), T Masuku (M Ncube 61st minute), G Moyo, F Ncube (Y Esisa 66th minute).
Online Reporter