Jasbir jolts CLW

March 31: Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala succeed in the topping the Group B when they beat Chitranjan Locomotive Works 1-0 in a league match...

March 31: Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala succeed in the topping the Group B when they beat Chitranjan Locomotive Works 1-0 in a league match of the 5th All-India Railway Football Tournament played at the Cooperage, today.

In an earlier match, South Central Railway SCR and North East Railway NER played a goaless draw. SCR have entered the quarter-finals. In the last match of the day, which was played under floodlights, Western Railway were held to a goalless draw by North Frontier Railway.

The match winner in the RCF-Chitranjan Locomotive Works tie came in the 70th minute when striker Jasbir Singh8217;s 25-yard right-footer dipped into the goal. Goalkeeper Chinmoy Mukherjee, who came in as substitute for Utpal Mukherjee in the second half, leapt high with outstretched hands but was not able to cut out the flight as the ball dropped in.

However, both RCF and CLW have qualified for the quarter-finals. RCF with two wins have six points while CLW have three from two matches.

RCF could have taken the leadearlier in the first half but poor finishing undermined the efforts of the hard-working midfielders. In the eighth minute, mid-fielder Bikramjit Singh sent a 35-yard power-packed shot from the left flank but was punched out by CLW custodian Utpal Mukherjee.

Midway through the first session, Manjinder Singh dribbled past a couple of defenders on the right and stunned the custodian with a blistering left-footer which just sailed over the bar. The best scoring chance for RCF came few minutes before the breather for RCF when their playmaker Ram Lubhaya set up Naresh Kumar on a free-kick. Kumar8217;s shot from ten yards was directed straight into the goalkeeper, who punched it away to safety.

In the earlier match, SCR too lost some good chances. Striker Mohamaad Jamil8217;s 70th minute smashed the ball into the side netting. The opportunity came when goalkeeper Sanatan Chakraborty failed to control a pass.

Uday Konar joins BMFC

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The newly formed Bengal Mumbai Football Club have signed up another Mumbaiplayer, Uday Konar. quot;Konar, a former Salgoacar player has signed the inter-state transfer forms,quot; said Krishnendu Sen, the managing director of BMFC. In a telephonic conversation with The Indian Express, Sen added that few others including a Jagatjit Cotton Textiles, Phagwara goalkeeper will be signing up for Mumbai8217;s first professional club shortly.

Konar said: quot;I was approached by the BMFC officials and found the offer worth accepting. They are building up a team for the future and I also get another opportunity to play in Mumbai.quot;

Konar, formerly with Salgaocar, was last year involved in a on-the-field scuffle with Air-India8217;s international goalkeeper Mohamaad Yusuf Ansari and striker PJ Jose during the inaugural National Football League at Fatorda Stadium, Goa. Ansari and Konar were suspended for two years, which was later reduced to one year. quot;I have learned my lesson,quot; said Konar recalling the incident.