A 10th minute Jackson Dwang strike and an own goal from Austin Ochieng’ helped seal a 2-1 victory for Posta Rangers over relegation bound Mathare United in a fairly balanced FKF Premier League encounter on Saturday afternoon. Norman Ogolla scored the consolation for Mathare but it was too little to grant another victory following their previous result against AFC Leopards..The visitors took an early lead in the 10th minute after Jackson Dwang’ latched onto a Francis Nambute through ball.Posta had the chance to double their lead from the spot after Joshua Nyatini was brought down by Khalid Jumaan in the box.Jackson Dwang stepped up to take the resultant penalty but his kick went wide, Mathare survived.Mathare were dealt a blow in the 28th minute after youngster Kennedy Ochieng, who was making his third start of the season, came off injured and his place taken by Austin Ochieng’.Looking for an equalizer, Mathare continued pressing but their long balls to turn Posta’s defense on the left side lacked precision and Suleiman Ngotho dealt with them perfectly.With five minutes left to half time, Posta doubled their lead as substitute Austin Ochieng’ helped Dennis Oalo’s shot into his own net. Posta went for the break with a 2-0 lead.On resumption, Mathare showed intent to stage a comeback and it took them only four minutes to half the deficit.The Slum Boys were awarded a freekick on the right channel after Daniel Otieno was brought down by Michael Apudo.Left-footed Norman Ogolla stood on the ball and curled in a beautiful freekick, bouncing it in front of Posta Rangers’ keeper Kevin Opiyo on its way in.With a point on sight, Mathare kept pressing and Frank Ouna refreshed his side with a double substitution bringing in Cersidy Okeyo and Danson Kago for Tyson Otieno and Alphonce Ndonye in the 53rd minute.Perhaps to avoid predictability, Stanley Okumbi had all the players on the bench warming up in preparation for a change.In the 65th minute and chasing the game, Ouna made his last set of changes resting Daniel Otieno and Khalid Jumaan for Chris Oduor and James Kinyanjui.Okumbi made his first change for the afternoon, introducing Josphat Lopaga for goal scorer Jackson Dwang’ in the 71 minute.To lock the game, Okumbi brought in Dinken Mwema and Peter Ng’ang’a for Simon Mbugua and Alex Luganji with seven minutes left to play in regular time.Apudo bossed the midfielder in the second half, not as good as he did in the first half, forcing Mathare to play from wide as they fought for an equalizer.Kinyanjui did some neat footwork on the right side, floating in a good cross but Eugene Wethuli headed wide invthe 88th minute.Nambute thought he had sealed the win for Posta in the 90th minute after slotting the ball past an on rushing Job Ochieng’ but onto the side net.The win sees Posta Rangers move to 12th on the log while Mathare remain rooted at the bottom.”A game of chances. We created so many in the first half. We won but we need to work hard. I have told my team that we must get maxim points against the teams below us. I think we are getting it right, ” Okumbi said”It was a game of two halves. We played better in the second half but we lost a point so I am not happy. There is no pressure at all, there are 13 more matches left to play and we will focus on those and give it our all, ” Ouna said
