The Sunday Mail
Moffat Mungazi in MUTARE
Cranborne Bullets … (2) 2
Bulawayo City ….. (0) 1
TWO first-half goals by Tadiwa Chibunyu and Selemani Jarison were enough to seal victory for Cranborne Bullets over battling Bulawayo City in a lukewarm Castle Lager Premiership match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
The encounter was a tale of two halves, with Bullets dominating the first and City coming to life in the second stanza.
Barely two minutes into the game, City’s Wilfred Munorwei suffered what appeared a serious injury following a clash with Bullets goalkeeper Elisha Nechiturike.
He briefly continued playing after being attended to by medics but it was not long before he was substituted and ferried to hospital.
His condition was reported to be stable.
Following a sustained spell of attacks, Cranborne Bullets raced into the lead when Chibunyu converted from the spot after Selemani was upended in the box following some fine work on the right flank.
Selemani then nodded home off an inch-perfect delivery by Namakhoma Mclint to extend Bullets’ advantage before the break.
Bulawayo City returned from the breather fired up and reduced the deficit with their first attack of the second half when Janatana Xavier turned the ball into his own net.
Following a poor start, Bullets coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera was delighted with his side’s second successive win.
“I am happy that we utilised our chances in the first half and managed the game well in the second to collect maximum points.
“We will continue working hard and improve as some of our players are returning from injury to give us a boost for the forthcoming assignments,” said Saruchera.
The visitors coach, Philani “Beefy” Ncube, had no kind words for the referee, Polane Chomunoda, as he decried what he described as “biased officiating”.
“Honestly, the refereeing was bad. The match official made some questionable calls that disadvantaged us.
“He did not caution the Cranborne Bullets goalminder after he came out with a two-handed challenge on our player, whom we eventually lost to that injury.
“Also, that penalty he awarded was a soft one and those unfair decisions going against us made things difficult.
“Otherwise, we were up for it as we showed serious attacking intent and I think a draw would have been the fairest result.”
