Substitute Wycliffe Ochomo sinks Nzoia

A 72nd minute goal by substitute Wycliffe Ochomo was enough to give Bandari FC a morale boosting 1-0 victory over the visiting Nzoia Sugar Fc in a scrappy SportPesa Premier League match at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa on Saturday.

Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala said they failed to win the match by a bigger margin because Nzoia's organisation.

“I expected a tough match because the players and technical bench officials know my style of play. Nzoia is also fighting to avoid relegation so they gave everything to make sure they secure the points,” said Mwalala.

He said since taking over his new assignment at Bandari, their match against Nzoia was his toughest yet.

“I advice Nzoia to never lose hope for if they continue to play the way they played today, I’m sure they will avoid relegation,” said Mwalala.’

Nzoia head coach Nicholas Muyoti said it was a scrappy game as a result of a poor playing ground.

“Both teams failed to play good football as the playing surface did not allow that to happen,” he said.

The game got off to a slow start with Nzoia pinning their opponents into their territory for almost 28 minutes. Nozia's Wakhungu and Patrick Kwitonda made two tries which were easily saved by Bandari goalkeeper Faroukh Shikhalo.

Bandari were not impressive in the first half and instead resorted to long balls.

The home team’s winger Abdalla Hassan was the only player who managed to send two tries with weaker shots in the 19th and 38th minutes, which Nzoia goalkeeper Benson Mangala had no difficulty in saving them.

In the 37th minute, Nzoia almost took the lead when Collins Wakhungu sent a powerful kick which Shikhalo made a brilliant save.

Three minutes later, the Bandari goalie was called to action, pulling a good save from Khitonda.

In the second half, Bandari improved and deservedly snatched their only goal in the 72nd minute through Ochomo, who replaced Yema Mwama.

He received a fine pass from William Wardi and blast the ball past the helpless Mangala.