Shikhalo stars as Bandari hold Mathare in Machakos

Goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo was the hero as Bandari battled to a barren draw with Mathare United in a SportPesa Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday.

Shikhalo, up against a Mathare side led by his former coach at Tusker, Francis Kimanzi, denied David Owino after the marauding left back tried to loop the ball over him in the first half before producing two brilliant saves to shut Clifford Alwanga from close range in the second period.

Bandari's Abdalla Hassan saw his shot hit the side netting after a wonderful solo run from his half, while David King'atua had a shot missing the target from outside the area.

But it's Mathare who will feel the result was unfair to them after their brilliant display in the encounter. Eager to get back to winning ways after a series of misses and near misses in the recent past, Kimanzi's charges came out all guns blazing with Alwanga, Cliff Nyakeya and Chris Ochieng terrorising the visitors rearguard early on.

After a period of sustained pressure and dominance by the hosts, Ochieng found Alwanga but his shot was saved by Shikalo, before the keeper denied Ochieng after he was released by the former Tusker forward.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead on 67 minutes but Nyakeya miscued a shot from Martin Ongori's low cross from a free-kick to leave Kimanzi and his bench stunned.

The final whistle signalled a fifth successive match in which the Slum Boys have not tasted victory in the league, after a brilliant start to the season.

The point takes Mathare's tally to 26, four behind league leaders Gor Mahia - who have three games in hand.