Spirited JCT split points with East Bengal

Margao, Feb 23: Nothing lost. A lot gained. There were no goals after 180 minutes play in the Coca-Cola Super Six National Football Leagu...

Margao, Feb 23: Nothing lost. A lot gained. There were no goals after 180 minutes play in the Coca-Cola Super Six National Football League but Jagatjit Cotton Textiles JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh had every reason to be pleased.

The hardy Punjab millmen snatched another point from the formidable Calcutta side today at the Nehru Stadium. It was the turn of East Bengal to fret and fume after Mohun Bagan were kept at bay last Friday in the Super Six opener.JCT, the underdogs in the club of qualifiers from the first phase, play with full awareness of their limitations. Today they gladly abandoned their fast paced long ball game. This not only helped them conserve energy, it also did much to stifle East Bengal8217;s pace and penetration a fact lamented by morose coach Manoranjan Bhattacharya.

The East Bengal coach, who castigated his players for a casual start after the 2-1 win over FC Kochin, today said his team8217;s slowness undermined their ability to break down the JCT defence.

Sukhwinder Singh looked back ona commendable achievement by his players. 8220;It8217;s certainly not a bad thing to come away from matches against East Bengal and Mohun Bagan with draws,8221; he said. He, however, found flaws in his team8217;s play not least in the wrong passes after succeeding in snatching the ball in the first half. Whatever the tactics, JCT were bubbling with confidence. After holding their own in a tight group in the first phase, no calibre of opponent appears to cause them any sort of apprehension. Neither a Bhaichung Bhutia, Raman Vijayan, Carlton Chapman or for that matter an Emmanuel Opoku 8212; the Ghanaian touted as the best foreigner in the League.

JCT, perhaps sensing a flagging opponent, chanced the counter. They often had Calcutta side8217;s defence in some sort of anxiety but lacked a proper organisation for the attack. Hardeep Sangha, getting better and better, threatened often. The hard-working Surjeet Singh and Hardeep Gill often caused consternation in the East Bengal ranks but JCT were bereft of goal ideas.

The Punjaboutfit, vociferously cheered by the crowd, almost stunned East Bengal as the minutes ticked by. Hardeep Gill blasted a cross by Sangha goalwards but Bibhas Ghosh blocked in time before collecting in a scramble.Five minutes of stoppage time gave the Calcutta side some lease to redeem themselves. And Bhutia appeared keen to do so. Hardeep Saini, a youngster set to blossom into a big star, was equally keen on preserving JCT8217;s hard fought gains. A spectacular back volley thwarted Bhutia8217;s attempt.

Kochin meet Salgaocar

FC Kochin take on Salgaocar in the first Super Six National Football League match tomorrow at the Nehru stadium here, eager to put an end to a lean run.The young side from Kerala crashed to East Bengal on Saturday after a shock loss in the first phase to ITI and must get their act together to overcome what might become a psychological hurdle. Manager Babu Mather, however, believes his team will continue to play positively.

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Churchill Brothers take the pitch against Mohun Bagan. Thesides drew twice in the first phase, the second ending in a thrilling encounter. Five of Bagan players were down with food poisoning .