By McLloyd Kudzingo
Silver Strikers missed a chance to climb top in the TNM Super League after falling to a 2-1 defeat to Civil Service United at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Two first half goals from Binwell Katinji and Luke Chima were enough to secure all three points for the civil servants who have now moved to position 7 on the log table.
Katinji put Civil in the lead just two minutes from kick-off after receiving a beautiful cross from Lloyd Aaron.
Chima then doubled the lead in the added time of the first half after connecting a throw-in taken by his captain Timothy Silwimba.
In the second half Silver introduced Emmanuel Muira and Stain Davie for Tatenda M’balaka and Chisomo Mpachika.
The change proved to be fruitful as the team started creating more scoring opportunities but still failed to get the back of the net.
Realizing that time was not their side, the central bankers introduced the fresh legs of Patrick Macheso for Chinsinsi Maonga to add power upfront.
Chimwemwe Idana then pulled one back for Silver in the 82nd minute after receiving a beautiful pass from Mark Fodya.
After the goal, Silver introduced Adiel Kaduya for Zebron Kalima as they kept on searching for an equaliser but to no avail.
Civil on the other hand made a couple of substitutions in the second half, bringing in Innocent Tanganyika, Arnold Masamba and William Mwalwimba for goal scorer Luke Chima, Muhamad Biason and Damiano Kunje respectively.
In the dying minutes, Civil also introduced Dan Kumwenda for Lloyd Aaron and in the end they won the bragging rights for the capital city.
Silver remain third with 28 points, a point behind league leaders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets while Civil are perched on 7th position with 19 points.
In other matches played on Sunday, Dedza Dynamos and Ekwendeni Hammers played out to a 1-all draw in an entertaining match played at Dedza Stadium.
The visitors were the first to score through Felix Dumakude who scored in the 32nd minute but the home side equalized through leading scorer Clement Nyondo who scored his 11th goal in the 82nd minute.
Hammers have finished the first round with 24 points and they are on position 5 while Dynamos are on position 8 with 19 points.
Elsewhere, Bangwe All Stars moved one place from the drop zone following their 2-1 win over Mafco FC at Mpira Stadium.
Mafco took the lead through Mphatso Philimon who connected a free-kick by Dan Chimbalanga in the 13th minute but Bangwe equalized through James Tambwali in the 26th minute before Yamikani Mologeni scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 77th minute.
Bangwe are now on position 12 after accumulating 17 points while Mafco are on position 11 with the same number of points but the latter have a superior goal difference.
