FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves maintained their Group B top position in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League following a goalless draw away at Ntaja Rangers on Sunday.
What happened
Two minutes into the tie, we were already presented with a goal-scoring opportunity, but Edward Thengo’s free header hit the upright at the far post to prevent us from taking an early lead.
Since that moment, goal-mouth action went missing as the two teams battled it out mostly in the middle of the park.
At the stroke of half an hour, we threatened again when Misheck Biliati hit the post, and Zaneel Jussab could not keep his calm on the rebound to blaze the ball over the bar.
As our momentum seemed to be on the rise, we were dealt an injury blow when Gift Lamowa pulled his groin. That forced coach Enos Chatama to replace him with Prince Chalera and bring on Kondwani Tebulo for Raphick Bahati in the left-back position.
Subsequently, we looked reinvigorated and created our third goal-scoring opportunity in the tie. Limbani Kutambe had darted a set-piece into the area, which substitute Chalera connected well with his head, but for the third time, we were denied by the post.
A half we could have easily scored a lot would head for the interval with nothing to write on the scoreboard.
Looking for a spark, we returned for second-half action with a double change. Biliati and Oscar Petro were replaced by Hadji Steven and Sladge Sanudi, who marked his return after two weeks on the sidelines with an ankle issue.
Time flew away in the final half without something to offer regarding highlights.
In the later stages of the tie, we made our fifth and last sub by bringing on Francis Malikebu for Zaneel Jussab, but things remained the same until the final whistle, 0-0, it finished.
What it means
The point away from home was enough for our youngsters to maintain Group B’s top spot. After 21 games, we are on 41 points with one match left to play before we wrap up our group stage campaign.
Nyambadwe United is in second place, with 38 points, and has one game to play in the group stage.
Chatama post Ntaja Rangers
“It was a tough match. We failed to play our usual game due to the bumpy surface of the pitch as the ball could not move better. All in all, it is a better result; we did not score, and we did not concede. It’s good that we are defending very well; we can only be worried about not creating more chances. It’s good that we are maintaining the top spot, and it’s our wish to win the group”
Looking forward
Bullets Reserves have one match left to wrap up their ThumbsUp Southern Region Football group-stage campaign. The midweek fixture is next Thursday at home against Might Mukuru Wanderers Reserves at Kamuzu Stadium.
