FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves ran riot to produce an 11-0 victory over Mangochi United in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League on Saturday afternoon at the Kamuzu Stadium.
The emphatic result was enough to take the defending champions back on top of the Group B table with 30 points from 16 games.
What happened
On the boil, our youngsters started off the tie against a side they played out to a goalless draw in the first round of the campaign.
It only took 46 seconds for Enos Chatama’s boys to create a glorious chance, but Chrispin Mapemba’s goal-bound effort got blocked to deny young Bullets from scoring what could have been their fastest goal this season.
The visitors walked away with that let off but five minutes later luck was nowhere to be found for them to ride as we opened the scoring through Wongani Kaponya, who tapped in a cutback from Limbani Kutambe from down the right-hand side.
We doubled the lead through the same scorer of our first, who similarly tapped in past the visiting goalkeeper Anganile Nyondo, this time connecting a delivery from Gift Lamowa.
After going a couple of months without finding the back of the net in the league, Mapemba finally broke his goal drought, wrapping up a wonderful team move with a composed finish.
The Malawi international winger then added his second a few moments later to make it 4-0 after 23 minutes on the pitch.
Goals were raining heavily now in our favour as the visitors were increasingly looking feeble. In the 26th minute Lamowa, who scored a precious brace against Mighty Wanderers Reserves last weekend, made it five after being assisted by Francis Malikebu.
At the stroke of half an hour, Mapemba completed his hat-trick on the day after reaping the visitors’ defence apart with his blistering pace before firing past Nyondo to make it 6-0 to the good.
With five minutes to go before the end of the opening half, we were dealt with a blow as Chatama was forced to throw in Wilson Jacob to replace Kaponya who sustained a hamstring injury.
Our seventh goal on the afternoon came four minutes into the second half as Mapemba made it four to his name by tapping in a well-weighted pass from substitute Jacob.
Malikebu, who was involved in most of goals on the day than any other player, then picked up Lamowa with a clever through ball and the striker finally got his brace after a bizarre miss a few minutes earlier.
Three minutes later it was 9-0 as Jacob grabbed another assist since coming on, providing a fine set up for Mapemba to take his goal tally to five.
From a two-time provider, Jacob then got himself on the scoresheet with a neat finish to make it 10-0.
Jacob was on fire as he quickly doubled his tally with another calm placing to make it 11- 0.
It could have been even more but that Jacob’s strike proved to be the final one. 11-0 it finished.
What it means
Our youngsters are now on 30 points from 16 games and with four games left to play before the finish of the group stages, they lead Group B.
The young Maule are now level on points with Ntopwa FC, who have played a game more but can’t match our superior goal difference.
Having defeated Zomba Air Base 9-0 on the opening day of the season, Saturday afternoon’s win is now the biggest they have registered so far in this campaign.
Coach Enos Chatama’s reaction
“We have been struggling to score goals lately, today it was good as the boys came to the party. I’m happy that we have scored eleven goals and that we are back on top. Now we have to look forward to the upcoming games.”
What next?
Following up this weekend’s win is another ThumbsUp SRFL action next weekend as our youngsters are pushing to finish the group stages at the summit of the table.
