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Dembare lose to league's whipping boys in Beitbridge

by Thupeyo Muleya
08 Aug 2016 at 06:40hrs | Views
Border Strikers  2 - 1 Dynamos
JUST when Dynamos fans thought things could not get any worse, the misfiring Glamour Boys slumped to a shock defeat at the hands of basement side, Border Strikers, with the Beitbridge lightweights making a mockery of their illustrious rivals before a packed Dulivadzimu yesterday.

It was only Border Strikers' third win of the season, with their other victories coming against fellow strugglers Tsholotsho and a Harare City that hasn't been firing on all cylinders this year forcing the Sunshine City Boys to fire their coach Taurai Mangwiro.

DeMbare came into this game on the back of a run of four games, in which they had failed to score a goal as they dropped eight points in the process, with their disillusioned Vietnam fans turning against their men at Rufaro on Thursday after a goalless draw against How Mine.

And, yesterday, it got worse for coach Lloyd Mutasa and his men as they slumped to a defeat against the punching bags of the top-flight league in a shock result that will certainly send the Glamour Boys' camp into another soul-searching exercise.

Of course, they ended their lengthy barren spell in front of goal, but Masimba Mambare's goal counted for nothing, in the end, as the plucky Border Strikers — backed by a full-house at Dulivadzimu — grabbed a late winner to send this town into wild celebrations.

Super substitute William Nyoni, who was introduced in the 53rd minute, sealed DeMbare's fate when his powerful volley, after meeting a cross from Tabwe Kalunga, found the target in the 81st minute to give his side a priceless victory. As the frustrations boiled in the DeMbare camp, midfielder Dominic Mukandi was sent off in the 90th minute after he punched Ephraim Mwinga in a tussle for the ball. Mutasa said his men paid a huge price for a loss of concentration in the closing stages of the game. "We were playing a hungry side and they gave it their all," said Mutasa.

"Unfortunately, we gave away a lot of passes at the back and they capitalised on that."

Border Strikers gaffer, Never Malunga, said the win was long overdue and backed his men to win more games in the remainder of the campaign as they had been showing, in recent games, that they are up to the challenge of playing in the Premiership.

He said their fight against relegation remained alive and his men's confidence will now be boosted by this big victory over the Glamour Boys. "We will fight until the last whistle. We are not giving up yet," said Malunga. Nyoni, who proved to be the match-winner, said they had been working very hard and deserved their place in the sun and the rewards that were now coming their way.

"That was my best goal and I want to thank my teammates and the fans for the support," said Nyoni. Border Strikers remain anchored at the bottom of the table, despite yesterday's landmark victory, but there is belief in this side that they can manage to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

Dynamos had the upper hand in the first half with the home 'keeper, Talent Sande, fighting a lone battle as he repelled the danger posed by Mambare, Denver Mukamba and Ocean Mushure, including producing some fine saves which kept his side in the game.

DeMbare have struggled for goals this season and the first half score was goalless was a familiar script to their campaign. But the Glamour Boys, who had turned specialists into keeping clean sheets of late, conceded a goal in the 54th minute when Nyoni, came in as a substitute a minute earlier, forced his way into enemy territory and Clever Mutendebure struck home off a rebound.

But the home team's joy lasted only five minutes as Mambare found the equaliser for the Glamour Boys after Mukamba had swung the ball into the box from a corner. The match appeared set for a draw but, in the last 10 minutes of the contest, the home team found their golden goal to stun their fancied opponents.

Border Strikers became the first team to score more than a goal, against Dynamos, in the league since Highlanders came to Rufaro and beat the Glamour Boys 2-0 in Round Eight of the championship campaign.

The Beitbridge side are also only the third team, this season, to score more than one goal against DeMbare with the others being Bosso, who won 2-0 at Rufaro, and Chicken Inn who thrashed the Glamour Boys 3-0 at Barbourfields in the opening game of the campaign.

Teams.
Border Strikers: T Sande, S Mazumba, M Variso, G Mukambi, E Mwiinga, K Kwashi, C Mutendebure, M Mwenya, J Borges, T Kalunga (F Musunye 47th min), W Nyoni (D Tito 53rd min).

Dynamos: T Mukuruva, G Murwira, O Mushure, M Machazani, O Mwerahari, S Alimenda, D Mikambi, D Mukandi, K Nyakasaka, R Mutuma (B Amidu 70th min), M Mambare.

Source - the herald