Former Civil Service United loanee Festus Duwe scored the opening goal but refused to celebrate in respect of his former team as Silver Strikers comfortably grabbed the bragging rights of Malawi’s capital city following a 2-0 home victory over rivals Civil Service United.
The Bankers looked determined from onset invading their enemy’s territory in the opening minutes.
However the first chance of the match fell to Civil’s enterprising attacker Blessings Malinda who who was a marvel to watch throughout the match.
The servants won a freekick just outside the box and Malinda took it but his shot went just inches wide of George Chikooka goal.
The Bankers then quickly recovered and were on the offensive throughout.
Chinsinsi Maonga,Festus Duwe,Uchizi Vunga and lone striker Emmanuel Allan all combined well to create goal scoring opportunities for Peter Mgangira’s side.
The Bankers’ crowning moment would come after 12 minutes of play.
A move originated from the right and the ball was switched to Chinsinsi Maonga on the left who cut inside creating space for himself before laying a pass to man of the moment Duwe on the D Zone whose grass cutter was too hot to handle for Blessings Juma in Civil goal.
From there the Bankers continued to dominate play with Chimwemwe Idana enjoying much of possesion play in midfield.
Civil however were not sitting back and captain Moses Banda had a chance to level matters but his thunderbolt just outside the box was parried for a corner by Chikooka.
Civil’s day would however move from bad to worse as communication breakdown between defenders and goalkeeper Blessings Juma saw the servants concede a needless penalty with less than 5 minutes left to play in the first half.
That penalty was never short of drama as Silver defender Nixon Mwase had initially positioned himself to take the spot kick but the ball was removed from the spot by Chinsinsi Maonga and handed over to Idana much to the discontentment of Mwase.
Idana stepped up and converted the spot kick to ensure that the Bankers go to half time with a comfortable 2-0 cushon.
Civil emerged a completely changed side in the second half following the introduction of attacker Frank Chizuze.
On several occasions Chizuze initiated moves that would have materialised into goals but the Civil strikers were just not clinical in front lf goal.
Silver had chances of their own with one notable one falling to substitute Binwell Katinji but the former Civil striker could not just keep his balance to put the ball into the net with goalkeeper Juma already beaten.
That win has seen the Bankers move into 6th place with 11 points while as for Civil they now occupy 13th position from 7 games.
