Silver Strikers Sunday were made to sweat but underlined their TNM Super League title credentials as they defeated Fomo FC 1-0 at Silver Stadium.
The victory means the Central Bankers have opened a 11-point gap at the summit of the log table as they have 36 points from 14 matches.
Second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers were held to a goal-less draw against Mafco at Chitowe Stadium.
However, Silver are 16 points ahead of defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who lost 2-1 to Karonga United at Karonga Stadium Sunday.
With one game to wind up the first round, the Bankers have an advantage in the title race as they are looking to end their 11-year wait for the TNM Super League championship.
The match was destined for a goal-less stalemate after Fomo matched them in many departments for the better part of the match.
But Fomo lost concentration towards the end of the match and Duncan Nyoni capitalised on that to tap in a MacDonald Lameck pass in the 79th minute.
Relief was the prevalent emotion on the part of Silver after they also survived a scare in some moments.
The Central Bankers’ playmaker Chimwemwe Idana was named player of the match.
Silver Coach Peter Mponda admitted that Fomo gave them a good run for their money.
Despite the 11-point gap, Mponda refused to get carried away.
“Fomo were tactically very good and denied us space. We should avoid complacency because other teams can catch us. But this is not the time to drop points,” Mponda said.
Fomo Coach Gilbert Chirwa praised the performance of his players despite the loss.
“We contained them for the better part of the game but we just lost concentration and were punished,” Chirwa said.
Fomo remain on position 12 on the log table with 14 points from 14 matches.
At Karonga Stadium, Bullets suffered their second defeat of the season when they lost 2-1 to Karonga.
The loss summed up Bullets’ poor performance this season, having won only four matches, suffered two losses and eight draws in 14 matches.
This is the worst start for Bullets in the league in six years.
The hosts came from behind after Babatunde Adepoju gave Bullets the lead in the 28th minute but Saulos Moyo pulled Karonga level before the break.
Blessings Mwalilino scored the winner in the 69th minute.
Bullets remain fifth on the log table with 20 points whereas Karonga moved up to position 10 with 18 points from 14 matches.
Bullets Coach Kalisto Pasuwa, though he questioned the second goal, said his charges went to sleep.
“It is about complacency on how we conceded the goals. Our boys could not pick up in defence,” Pasuwa said.
Karonga Assistant Coach Christopher Chinkwita praised his players for the win.
“The players executed our game plan well,” he said.
Elsewhere, straight from their 5-0 loss to Silver on Thursday, Mzuzu City Hammers bounced back with a 1-0 win over Chitipa United at Mzuzu Stadium courtesy of Wongani Lungu’s goal.
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