HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . .0
CRANBORNE BULLETS . . . . .0
HIGHLANDERS FC winless run stretched after they were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Cranborne Bullets in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Bosso last won a league match in September when they beat Yadah Stars 2-0 at the same venue. Yesterday, they were missing the services of head coach Jose Baltemar Brito who was on national duty.
Bosso missed a penalty after referee Owen Manende awarded them a spot kick when goalkeeper Jabangwe tripped Calvin Chigonero inside the box. Chigonero had to be stretchered off following what appeared to be a neck injury. Ariel Sibanda blazed his effort over the bar after an 11 minute stoppage.
The start of the match was delayed by five minutes due to heavy rains that pounded Barboufields Stadium after the two teams had returned to the dressing rooms after warm up.
In a soaked pitch, Highlanders started off brightly with McKinnon Mushore threatening twice. In the third minute he attempted to catch the goalkeeper Victor Jabangwe off guard. He returned again to torment Cranborne a minute later with a powerful strike that the goalkeeper did well to smoother.
Mushore had received a pass from Ray Lunga who was impeded in the process and the referee Manende brought action back and awarded Bosso a free kick. Melikhaya Ncube’s drive deflected with the goalkeeper Jabangwe beaten.
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Nyasha Gurende had Cranborne’s first attempt at goal when he turned Mbeba, but his cross eluded everyone.
Chigonero had his header in the 11th minute deflected for a corner from a tantalising cross by Marvelous Chigumira who had a good day at the office.
After the breather, Highlanders searched for an opener with intent, but they fluffed all the opportunities which came their way. After 53 minutes, Chigumira's freekick caused commotion inside the box, but Washington Navaya dilly-dallied inside the box and the ball was cleared away.
In the 70th minute a brilliant move culminated in Melikhaya laying a pass for Lunga who blazed over. Navaya again missed a header in the 72nd minute, but Jabangwe tipped his header over the bar from an Andrew Mbeba cross.
In the 74th minute, Chigumira had the stadium up on its feet with a long range strike that went over the bar. Substitute Stanley Ngala had a point blank header blocked from a corner kick by Mbeba in the 76th minute.
Xavier Janatana was the hero for Cranborne in the 89th minute when he cleared from the line a Washington Navaya header with Jabangwe at sea.
Bosso assistant coach Joel Luphahla apologised to supporters and bemoaned the missed opportunities. "It's very disappointing, especially playing at home one would expect the team to collect the maximum points, especially at this stage of the season. I feel very sorry for the fans. They came out in numbers to support the team but unfortunately it because very difficult to get a win.
“It happens in the game to miss a penalty. Everybody can miss a penalty. We had other chances in the second half which we could have buried but unfortunately we still continue to struggle in front of goal,” Luphahla said.
Cranborne Bullets interim coach Samson Mavhenyengwa was happy with the point gained and defended the team’s defensive strategy.
“It was a good game. Highlanders had the better chance to win it including a penalty but we got into a block when defending. When you are playing away you have to be defensive,” Mavhenyengwa said.
