Chicken Inn.......................0(0)
Sheasham.........................1(1)
A brilliant strike by Liberty Masveure was all Sheasham needed to dismiss a lethargic Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
Masveure received a pass from Nigel Mpinduki in the 31st minute, turned Mpumelelo Bhebhe and came face to face with goalkeeper Pride Zendera. The in form striker released a stinger which was too hot to handle for the diving Zendera.
Missing the services of Brian Muza and Tafadzwa Kutinyu, the Gamecocks put up a mediocre performance in a chilly afternoon and they failed to replicate the performance they displayed against Hwange last week.
Lizwe Sweswe was on cloud nine after yet another big win after beating champions FC Platinum in their previous match.
"Well-done to the team, the players, team Sheasham technical department and everyone for the hard work. I think the guys are working very hard and now they can see the results," said Sweswe.
Matore appeared dejected at the post match presser and was unhappy about the team's performance after they missed a penalty.
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"It's disappointing, we thought we were going to win this match and collect the maximum points but we lost it, " he said.
"I think we lost it on transition when we were supposed to have cooled our movements, even the decision making and also the defending, we were sleeping most of the time and on the second ball we were a bit slow," said Matore.
Sheasham were the first to settle and in the eighth minute Kuda Musharu, perhaps should have been selfish but he chose to cross the ball instead of shooting and his cross was well read by Itai Mabhunu who intercepted.
Bhebhe tried from a distance in the 25th minute but Elton Sibanda was equal to the task.
Masveure who was proving to be a thorn in the flesh for the Gamecocks was back again to torment them in the 36th minute, when his cross fell kindly to Musharu but the veteran blasted over the bar with a badly exposed Zendera sprawling on the turf.
Thubelihle Jubane also tried his luck in the 40th minute but his powerful strike missed the target as Sheasham assumed dominance in the first half.
New signing Tadiwa Chibunyu who was struggling with his game in midfield, had an opportunity inside the box but he shot straight at Sibanda in the 41st minute who punched his effort back into play.
Chicken Inn tried to put pressure in the two minutes of added time but the Construction Boys held on to go to the break leading.
Soon after the break, Prince Matore took out the ineffective Chibunyu and introduced George Majika. The substitute then made an attempt in the 66th minute but his shot found Sibanda well positioned to gather.
The Sheasham trio of Mpinduki, Masveure and Hillary Bakacheza put in a good shift with Chicken Inn struggling to break down the resilient Sheasham rearguard.
The referee of the day Allan Bhasvi gave Chicken Inn a lifeline in the 83st minutes after adjuding that Genius Mutungamiri was fouled inside the box but Sibanda dived to his left and pushed away the effort, much to the amusement of a group of Sheasham fans.
In the end, Chicken Inn rued the missed second half penalty.
Sheasham held on to grab the maximum points and make it two wins in a row.
Chicken Inn
P Zendera, M Hwata, B Ncube (English-Brown 88'), M Bhebhe, I Mabunu, N Ketala, C Dzingai, ,T Chibunyu (G Majika 45'), S Mhlanga, X Ndlovu, M Charamba (G Mutungamiri 75).
Sheasham
E Sibanda, P Madhazi (K Matake 78) , K Musharu, N Mpinduki, W Stima, C Kwaramba, D Mangesi, R Useni (T Tsimba 89'), T Jubane, L Masveure (P Shoko 75), H Bakacheza.
