KCB return to winning ways as Bandari sink Bidco

KCB FC halted their three-match winless run with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mara Sugar FC in an FKF Premier League match played on Saturday, 28 March at the Nyayo National Stadium.

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Heading into the match, the Bankers were ninth on the log with 34 points, enduring a poor run that had seen them taste victory just once in their previous five matches.

The Sugar Millers, on the other hand, were 12th on the log and, despite a torrid run, had won two of their previous five matches.

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The match started at a rather slow tempo, both teams moving the ball slowly and cautiously in attack and opening up as a way of maintaining the scores level in the early minutes.

KCB started growing into the game from the fifth minute and taking calculated moves in attack through the wide areas where Boniface Omondi and Kelvin Etemesi were operating.

Etemesi drove to the byline in the seventh minute and floated in an enticing cross, but it was well read by Joseph Okwenda, who stretched to cut out any forthcoming danger.

Mara had to wait until the 15th minute for their first attempt when Timothy Ndayala picked up a ball from the far right and attempted a shot on a half volley on a tight angle that went over the bar.

The battle concentrated in the midfield, where possession was exchanged through missed passes until the 27th minute when Ndayala once again got to the end of a Wafula pass inside the box but unleashed a shot wide off the right post.

KCB would then be recipients of the match’s first corner kick in the 29th minute, but Omondi’s kick was well dealt with by the Mara defense.

Mara would have another opportunity in the 32nd minute from a free kick taken by Jimmy Owili that called for a save before Ndayala skied the rebound.

KCB’s best chance of the half fell to Kelvin Etemesi in the 38th minute when he received a loose ball just outside the box, but his shot went over the bar.

A minute later, Mara had a chance when Ndayala on the flank laid in a cut back to Wafula, whose attempt was blocked for a corner.

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Mara threatened from the corner as Robinson got to the end of it, directed his shot at goal, but it was feeble and could not trouble Arnold in the KCB goal.

KCB had a flurry of chances in the last minutes of the first half through Francis Kahiro, and Rowland Makati, but none were good enough to alter the scoreline as the teams settled for a barren draw at the break.

The Bankers started the second half from where they left off, with Kahiro heading over a Siraj Mohammed free kick in the 47th minute.

The match’s tempo slowed further in the second half with few chances from either side, who were attempting direct long balls.

KCB would then take the lead in the 72nd minute when Makati got to the end of a rebound and passed the ball into the back of the net to break the deadlock.

Mara had an opportunity to equalise from a free kick in the 88th minute, but Lenkis Lenana skied his free kick.

BETTING GUIDE: KCB FC vs Mara Sugar FC, match preview , team news and prediction

In the end, KCB managed to squeeze an important 1-0 victory that ended their three-match winless run.

With the win, KCB ascended to eighth on the log with 37 points while Mara remained 12th with 30 points.

KCB Starting XI: Arnold Monzobo, Fadhili Masoud,Siraj Mohammed, Clyde Senaji, Amatton Samunya, Humphrey Mieno, Rowland Makati, Boniface Omondi, Richard Omondi, Kelvin Etemesi, Francis Kahiro

Mara Sugar Starting XI: Joseph Ogenda, Joseph Okwenda, Jim Owili, Robinson Musungu, Orona Oponda, Haron Thomas, Aineah Ndete, Daniel Wafula, Alex Imbusia, Cliff Nyakeya, Timothy Ndayala.

Bandari 1-0 Bidco United

In other matches of the day, Bandari FC returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Bidco United courtesy of a 60th-minute header by William Wadri.

The win ended Bandari’s four-match winless streak and took them up to seventh on the log with 37 points as Bidco remained in the relegation zone.

Nairobi United vs APS Bomet (Abandoned)

At Gusii Stadium, a waterlogged pitch forced the match between Nairobi United and APS Bomet to be abandoned at halftime with the scores barren.

The second half will be replayed on Sunday, 29 March at the same venue from 1000 hrs.

Gor Mahia are still at the summit of the league table with 56 points, seven more than second-placed AFC Leopards, as Police close the top three with 40 points awaiting the results between Kakamega Homeboyz and Posta Rangers.