PIRATES WIN AGAIN, LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Lloyd Mwale in MHONDORO-NGEZI

CHEGUTU Pirates kept alive their slim hopes of surviving relegation with a hard-fought victory over Chicken Inn with first half goals from Lewis Milanzi and Ralph Manuvire.

Zaire surged ahead in the third minute from a Milanzi strike which eluded Gamecocks ‘keeper Pride Zendera, hit the upright and rolled home.

Pirates should have doubled the lead but Tinotenda Ditima’s effort went over the crossbar after Pride Zendera had gifted their opponents with a mistake that almost cost his team dearly.

Chicken Inn crept into the game and forced more corner kicks which resulted in their equaliser.

A well-taken set piece from a corner kick by Genius Mutungamiri found the header of defender Mpumelelo Bhebhe who used his height to nod home the equaliser.

On the stroke of half-time Bhebhe thought he had found the lead for Gamecocks only for the far right assistant referee, Sam Mahachi, to raise his flag for an offside.

With only a few seconds before the referee blew to end the first half, Pirates took the lead from a Manuvire strike from an acute angle.

After the breather, the Gamecocks came back a changed side and they were twice denied by the upright post.

Pirates coach Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe was a happy man.

“I am happy to have collected three points, every win makes me and everybody happy, I hope to continue with this fine run in our next fixture away to Herentals, a very tough team but my boys are fighting very hard.”

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas blamed his charges for making basic errors.

“First half, we started very slowly and this caused a lot of pressure for us in the first 20 minutes and they found their opener but we came back and found the equaliser.

“In the second half, we managed to pin them in their half but we were not lucky as twice we were denied by the upright post, we scored but the referee denied us the goal and I don’t know why, it was up to him.”

Teams

Chegutu Pirates: Tafadzwa Magadu,Tinotenda Ditima, Splendour Membe, Maxwell Manuvire, Reuben Machaya, Reginald Ngazima (Aaron Dzangai), Tinashe Mwafulirwa, Raphael Manuvire (Richard Kumi), Tafadzwa Jika, Lewis Milanzi (Panashe Mushonga), Wayne Kamurai.

Chicken Inn: Pride Zendera,Genius Mutungamiri (M Hwata), Itai Mabunu,Mpumelelo Bhebhe, Kumbirai Chinda, Brendon Rendo, Elshawar Farasi, Thulani Joseph, Brian Muza(B Makopa), George Majika, Xolani Ndlovu

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