Bankers, Nomads close in on Lions

Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers on Wednesday lived it late to bag full points and close in on Super League leaders Red Lions.

The Bankers and the Nomads saw off spirited challenges from strong-willed Mponela United and Evirom respectively to register significant, but unlikely 1-0 wins each.

Silver have climbed to second position with 38 points from 22 games— two points short of the Lions while the Nomads are now third with 37 points from the same number of games.

Rejuvenated diminutive forward Green Harawa made amends after missing a penalty earlier on to strike the priceless goal for Silver with only five minutes to full time when the turnout thought it would end in a barren draw.

Harawa capitalised on a defensive error to head the ball home and send Silver fans into delirium and relief was the prevalent emotion in the Bankers’ camp in their quest to defend the title.

At Balaka Stadium, Wanderers were awarded a late penalty and up stepped Cuthbert Sinetre to cooly convert the lone goal.

The penalty was awarded after Sinetre appeared to have been tripped from behind by an Evirom defender. The decision did not go down well with some ganyu fans who threw missiles on the pitch and the game was stopped for about five minutes to allow the situation to calm down.

In Dwangwa, Mafco thrashed Mzuzu United 6-1 and Callisto Kalinda was the centrepiece of the victory when he claimed a hat-trick while Welani Nyirenda, Richard Mbulu and Alfred Nyondo scored the other goals.

Collen Nkhulambe scored the consolation for the relegation-bound Mzuzu outfit.

Mafco have now jumped to fourth position with 36 points from 23 games.