Thundercatz hand Fatima first loss

Thundercatz got the early breakthrough in the fifth minute off a penalty kick. Referee Anthony Ambrose spotted Robert Anthony handle the ball within the 18 yard box and without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot. Rohit Bhute stepped forward and did the needful. For the next fifteen minutes a tough battle ensued with Fatima going all out for an equaliser, with their game including a handful of hits and misses. They did manage to level the score in the 20th minute in an identical fashion.

This time the referee pointed the other way for a spot kick after Sutap Nair committed the heinous deed of touching the ball in the dreaded area. A confident looking Vijayan Arland did the honours, making no mistake. Returning back for the second session with a goal apiece, a bit of rough play was indulged in by both teams as each looked to gain the upper hand. Rival players were floored by each other while referee Anthony Ambrose preferred to give a playing advantage.

Time and again the Thundercatz frontline, which included Sutap Nair, Zaheer Shaikh and Pinaki Roy raided the rival half keeping the opposite defence on their toes. That Fatima lads were regretting missing the services of some of their key players clearly showed as they lacked their usual attacking style and finishing capabilities. Thundercatz sealed Fatima’s fate with a well scored goal by Vipin Nair in the 50th minute. Some brilliant footwork got him past a host of defenders and he completed the act by slamming the ball home over the hapless keeper Sameer D’Souza.

Had the losers been more alert they could have found a leveller off a flag kick minutes later but Vijayan Arland and Thomas Robert failed to nudge the ball in right at the goal doorstep. Patrick D’Souza warranted the yellow card for needlessly arguing with the referee claiming a penalty.

Today’s fixtures: (IIIrd Div): Fatima XI vs Shivajians Daund.