Western Railways overcome Mumbai Customs

Mumbai, September 8: Former champions Western Railway overcame a fighting Mumbai Customs 3-0 with all the goals coming in the second session of play in their MHA Super League tie played at the Mahindra Stadium today. In another match of the same league cellar teams Sports Authority of India and Mumbai Port Trust fought out a goalless draw enabling them to open their account on the points table.

The Customs and Western Railway encounter saw both the teams slug it out in the first half. The first penalty corner earned by Customs in the 14th minute saw Romeo Albuerqueue’s shot being padded confidently by railway custodian Suraj Kantha. However, Savio Nayak who pounced on the rebound scooped over the bar with the keeper at his mercy. Western retaliated with two successive penalty corners which were wasted.

The teams exchanged attacks and counter attacks which pleased the spectators but yielded no results. There was a superb backhander from Jayesh Jadhav following a fine cross from Chandrakesh Kumar but it was a bit wide. The Customs keeper Lincoln Taites made a diving clearance to his left following Western’s fourth penalty corner to keep the slate clean as the teams trooped out for half time. The deadlock was broken eight minute after the break when Hardeep Singh the small made striker cleverly deflected home a free hit taken from inside the 25 yard area. The lead was doubled ten minutes later by Hardeep himself by rounding of a good move from the left by Chandrakesh Kumar. Suresh Kumar who has been having a good time this season struck for the last time for Western sending a powerful drag flick high into the net from the eighth and last penalty corner. Western’s Kuldip Singh was showed the yellow card for dissent by Umpire Hardeep Singh.

The Sports Authority boys let go a good opportunity to collect full points against Mumbai Port Trust who like them had lost both their earlier matches. After an even first half Mayur Patil of SAI hit out with an open goal. He had managed to dribble past the goalkeeper after breaking on the left flank. M.P.T hit back twice only to find Muzahid Khan thwart Devender and Sarwan Singh in quick succession. SAI escaped narrowly when Nilesh Bendre saved on the goal line a try by Sarwan Singh after Muzahid had blocked the fourth penalty corner in the 62nd minute. Sarwan was the other player to receive a temporary suspension on the day. Three minutes later Harinder Singh’s reverse hit went inches wide and with it went M.P.T’s hopes of pocketing full points in the battle of the minnows.

Courtesy: Mumbai Hockey Association