Match Report:
Silver Strikers refused to suffer their first defeat of the season as they battled back to get a point against Moyale Barracks at their home turf.
Moyale Barracks stole the lead in the 23rd minute through Emmanuel Allan but the lead lasted just seven points minutes as the Bankers restored parity at the half hour mark when Zebron Kalima found the roof of the net.
Peter Mponda’s side remains unbeaten in the 2024 TNM Super League campaign and they have gathered 45 points from 19 outings while Moyale Barracks missed the chance of leapfrogging their brothers in arms, Kamuzu Barracks to 5th place as they remain 6th with 28 points.
Silver Strikers are scheduled for another home fixture as they welcome Dedza Dynamos who shared spoils with CRECK Sporting Club in another game on Saturday while Moyale Barracks are having another intriguing encounter against Civil Service United who suffered a 2-0 defeat to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the Airtel Top 8 Cup in the first leg in Blantyre.
Peter Mponda said Silver Strikers are the ones who dropped points while Moyale Barracks gained a point in his post-match reactions to a 1-all stalemate. After winning each of their last 9 home matches, the Bankers were looking to continue with their superior form when playing in front of their fans.
Failing to win a single game in their last 8 visits to Capital City against the Area 47 based side was a record that powered Moyale Barracks to break the hoodoo on Saturday but Silver Strikers relied on their home ground advantage to deny the Soldiers’ plans.
Moyale Barracks kicked off the first half with intent but it was the hosts who tasked the keeper twice in the first 15 minutes when Olise Nkwazi produced superb saves to deny Binwell Katinji and Levison Maganizo.
After a long wait, matchgoers were treated with the real hype of the game when Moyale Barracks forged ahead after 23 minutes. Khumbo Mhone served a good cross from the right to find Emmanuel Allan in the penalty area and the striker had little to do before hammering it home- in their recent visit to Silver, Moyale were also the first team to score in the 6th minute through Gastin Simkonda but Silver Strikers responded with 4 goals later.
A goal was a wake up call for Peter Mponda and he couldn’t hesitate, he made his first permutation in the 28th minute by replacing Chikondi Kamanga with creative Chimwemwe Idana.
The change paid off just two minutes later as Silver Strikers leveled up the scores. Substitute, Idana orchestrated the move to combine with Binwell Katinji who found Zebron Kalima in space and the winger arrowed his effort into the back of the net to bring the Bankers to life.
The goal injected power into Silver Strikers as they looked dangerous towards the end of the first half, Charles Chipala rattled the woodwork in the 35th minute but a defensive line led by Maneno Nyoni managed to hold on to the last minute of the first half.
Silver Strikers had won two games from their previous four games before the game against Moyale Barracks while their visitors had won one game in their recent four matches before Saturday’s fixture.
Silver Strikers fought back to get a point over Chitipa United in their last super league game and losing at home would have been morale-sapping. Moyale were off the back of a 1-all stalemate against Mafco FC.
Peter Mponda made two changes at the recess by bringing Macdonald Lameck on the right flank and Friday Osagie in front for Chisomo Mpachika and Levison Maganizo. The former Blue Eagles full-back used his pace and techniques to resuscitate the attack on the right, his overlapping ability allowed him to pocket spaces.
Two Moyale Barracks’ players, Chifundo Damba and Charles Nkhoma were booked signaling that the hosts upped their game in the second half. Dan Sandukira nearly forged Silver ahead but his effort was blocked by the visitors in the 59th minute.
Prichard Mwansa made his first change when he hooked Charles Nkhoma for Innocent Botoman in the 70th minute. Dan Sandukira rescued his team by clearing the ball before it crossed the goal line. Late changes couldn’t change the results of the game.
