Ulinzi shoot down hosts Thika as Stima electrocute lowly Top Fry

A late strike by Ulinzi Stars forward Kevin Amwayi on Saturday condemned Thika United to a 1-0 home loss in a Kenyan Premier League match played at the Thika Municipal Stadium.

And at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu County, Top Fry All Stars finally confirmed their exit from top-flight football with a 2-0 loss to Western Stima.

The soldiers’ victory saw them make it four wins in as many matches with a three-point gap ahead of Chemelil Sugar on fourth place and a good 47 points to their name.

After a goalless first half, Amwayi broke lose in the right flanks before pausing to make a well calculated decision to bury the ball deep in the far post past a diving Thika goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge.

The Thika custodian had earlier denied the visitors a sure chance of going ahead in the first half by exhibiting superb skill to save James Saurini’s spot kick.

The home team also had their chances and almost went ahead in the 54th minute when Michael Olunga sent a fiery shot homewards but goalkeeper Saruni saved the day by lifting the ball over the bar.

Michalel Luvutsi also came close to scoring for the milkmen when he pounced on a shot spewed back into play by Saruni. He nonetheless sent the shot inches wide to deny his team any claim to victory.

Thika’s defender Dirkir Glay put up a man of the match performance but admitted that the result was disappointing as they had planned to collect three home points. He however said the loss will not dampen their quest for a top five finish this season.

“We were playing well but we conceded a very simple goal and that was disappointing,” said Glay. “However, that is football and we now have to focus on our remaining matches so that we can finish among the top eight teams.”

In the lakeside city, two goals in the first half were enough to hand Western Stima three points and confirm the struggling Nakuru side’s stay in the cold at least one season.

Ali Bai found the back of the net in the seventh minute after Top Fry defence failed to clear John Kiplagat’s shot following a corner that was taken by Wesley Kemboi.

The Henry Omino-coached men continued to push for more goals but Kemboi and Collins Neto squandered golden chances half an hour into the match.

Top Fry’s Erastus Mwaniki should have found the back of the net in the 22nd minute only for his low drive shot to be saved by Stima custodian Steven Odhiambo.

Kiplagat scored a brilliant goal four minutes to halftime following a one-two with Kemboi and Bai to beat Kapilima Kanamuli, giving Stima their second goal.

At the onset of the second half, Omino opted for Francis Ochola coming in for Kiplagat to strengthen his midfield which seemed to give possession to Top Fry.

His counterpart Peter Okidi opted for Tony Nyangor and Evans Omondi for Daniel Kamau and Mwaniki, respectively.

TOPE EIGHT TARGET

The victory takes the electricians’ points haul to 36 with two games to go while Top Fry remain rooted the bottom of the table with 17 points.

Omino said his target now shifts to their Mathare United game as they aim to collect all the remaining six points.

“We aim to finish the league strongly, probably as number five, since a top eight finish is our target,” said Omino.

They will next face Mathare United next week as AFC Leopards meet Chemelil Sugar at the same venue at 3pm on Sunday.