Highlanders dismiss Peter and Madinda Ndlovu

Highlanders  (2) 3 √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú 0  Black Mambas
A brace by Njabulo Ncube and a header by Gilbert Banda saw Highlanders beat Black Mambas in a drab Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields yesterday.

The encounter was a rather one-sided affair as Bosso dominated from the first whistle and Mambas only came to the party late in the second half.

The match marked the return of Peter Ndlovu to Barbourfields where he last played in Highlanders colours 20 years ago and received a standing ovation from the home fans when he was substituted in the 69th minute.

His contribution to Mambas was minimal as he was starved of the ball for the better part of the game.  The former Coventry City striker's only got his first touch of the ball in the 11th minute.

Banda put the Bulawayo giants ahead in the third minute when he made a run into the box to head the ball past Didymus Chakabva, in goal for Mambas.

The ever-improving Lawson Nkomo had sent in a corner which the static Mambas defence failed to clear.

Ncube opened his account two minutes before half-time as he capitalised on the visitors' sluggish defence by reacting swiftly to the ball that Banda had headed down inside the box and the stocky striker poked it into the nets as the Mambas defenders desperately tried to clear to safety.

Ncube completed his brace in the 54th minute from the penalty spot.

Highlanders were awarded the penalty by referee Thabani Bhamala after Mambas defender Lovemore Mapuya had pushed Rahman Kutsanzira inside the box as he was going for the kill.

Despite the victory, Highlanders coach Mkhuphali Masuku was not impressed with his side's overall display but was happy with the three points that they collected.

Highlanders did not labour for their goals as Mambas' defence was sloppy and easily gave possession away to the Bulawayo giants.

Bosso's midfield quartet of Eric Mudzingwa, Kutsanzira, Louis Matawu and Arnold Tshuma failed to stamp their authority in the middle of the park and two of the home side's goals were a result of long balls being played into the box.

Two minutes after Bosso had taken the lead, striker Vincent Nzombe failed to beat Chakabva from close-range after getting to the end of a defence-splitting pass from Matawu.

Mambas almost equalised in the 33rd minute when Oudience Rundofa picked up a loose ball after the centre circle and took a long-range shot which deflected off Innocent Mapuranga, missing the target by a few inches.

Five minutes later, Ndlovu took a weak left shot at goal that did not bother Arial Sibanda, in goal for Highlanders. Bosso punished Mambas for their sloppiness two minutes before half-time when Ncube poked home from close range.

Ndlovu could have found the target in the 44th minute had he kept his shot low.

After the breather Bosso continued being the better side and they put the game beyond the reach of Mambas when Kutsanzira was brought down inside the box. And up stepped a confident Ncube to send Chakabva the wrong way.

Sebastian Mutizirwa came in for Fortune Ncube in the 58th minute and the former wasted three scoring chances that could have changed the complexion of the game.

Mutizirwa's first chance that went begging was in the 78th minute when he failed to beat Sibanda from close-range and the Young Warriors goalkeeper also made a stunning one-on-one save from the former

Teams
Highlanders
A. Sibanda, G. Banda, G. Lunga, L. Nkomo (B. Tshuma 76th minute), I. Mapuranga, A. Tshuma, L. Matawu, R. Kutsanzira (G. Ncube 80th minute), L. Mudzingwa, N. Ncube, V. Nzombe (M. Mburayi (78th minute).
Black Mambas
D. Chakabva, A. Musasa, B. Nyahunzvi, L. Maphuya, L. Kaisa, I. Nyoni, F. Ncube (S. Mutizirwa 58th minute), P Ndlovu (S. Musasa 69th minute), P. Kabwe (F. Banda 24th minute), K. Chimbadzwa, O. Rundofa.