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A draw was the fairest result in this pulsating Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Maglas Stadium yesterday that saw Shabanie Mine moving into second place in the championship race.

The asbestos miners have now amassed 22 points.

Shabanie Mine were, however, the happiest team as it was their first point from a match against the Gamecocks since they gained promotion last season. The Gamecocks beat the miners 2-0 at Maglas before finishing them off with a last minute goal at White City Stadium.

Things looked positive when the asbestos miners took the lead in the 52nd minute through a strike by Pervington Zimunya.

Phillimon Mudena’s corner from the right went past the entire visitors defence to the left where the alert Caleb Masocha’s bicycle kick was connected by Zimunya with his right foot, beating goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni all systems out.

A minute later Shabanie could have increased their tally when Masocha sent an inviting cross to Lennon Chisunga but his effort missed the target by inches with Nyoni at the wrong side of action.

The visitors then equalised in the 64th minute when substitute Tendai Chimenya headed the ball past goalkeeper Roy Mazingi.

A free kick from Kudakwashe Mahachi from the left was flicked by Tendai Ndoro to the path of Chimenya to put the finishing touches.

Mazingi came to the rescue of his side when he blocked an effort by Evan Chikwaikwai back into play in the 26th minute and former Dynamos player Philip Sithole cleared the ball to safety.

With action swinging from one end to the other Mudena got to the end of a loose ball at the edge of the box in the 37th minute but Nyoni showed the fans why he is a national team trialist by saving the effort.

Shabanie were missing the services of inspirational goalkeeper Victor Twaliki, the roving Erea Phiri, Malvin Fenyeka and the bustling Tarisai Rukanda through injury.

It was also the game Nelson Mazivise failed to find the target as he was not given any breathing space by Guide Goddard, the visitors’ defender.

Chicken Inn, who were playing 4-5-1 formation, were happy to leave Zvishavane with a point.

“It was a very good result and I give credit to my boys as they came from the behind to snatch a draw. In the second half I observed that my strikers were not pressurising the Shabanie defence and I quickly made some changes that finally paid dividends,” said Adam Ndlovu, the Chicken Inn coach.

Shabanie coach Luke Masomere was, however, not getting carried away by the fact that the team was now on second position.

“The result was very good. It is not a guarantee that when you are playing at home you should win. I was missing four players in my team and that changed the rhythm of the match.

“I do not read much in the position on the log because this is not the last game of the season. I want to be on number two when the season ends,” said the Shabanie Mine gaffer.

A minute of silence was observed before the match in honour of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo who died on 1 July, 1999.
Teams
Shabanie Mine: R. Mazingi, S. Choenda,P. Zimunya, C. Masocha (F. Kanda 74th minute),P. Mudena, P. Sithole, L. Chisunga, R. Mware, N. Maziwisa, S. Muchabayiwa, W. Ngonya.
Chicken Inn: N. Nyoni, F. Chindungwe, B. Mbiriri, M. Jackson, D. Phiri, E. Chikwaikwai (T. Chimenya 58th minute),T. Mukambi,T. Goredema (X. Moyo 89th minute), C. Nkomo (T. Ndoro 58th minute), K. Mahachi, G. Goddard.