The game looked to end in yet another defeat for Stima as Baron Oketch wasted a penalty in the first half, but the striker made up for his mistakes with a well taken strike to nullify Erick Kapaito’s brace in the gameAbdallah Juma was elated with his teams show of character and lauded his boys for the effort.”We have really done our best in the match. We were down two nil and we are happy with the fact that at least we are not going back home with nothing in our hands. Our focus now shifts to getting maximum points in our home matches in order for us to escape the relegation fight because the team is at a good place right now,” he saidSharks head coach William Muluya on his part bemoaned how his team crumbled under pressure in the game as they were unable to see out the match.”Credit to Western Stima today because their efforts were rewarded. But it is upto us to look at ourselves because we cannot afford to give up a two nil lead at this level,” he saidIt is the visiting Stima who got the earliest look on goal in the opening ten minutes of the game, striker Michael Karamor testing the palms of keeper Brian Olang’o with a stinging strike from the edge of the box.That Stima attack was quickly fizzled out as Sharks regained possession soon after. A rejuvenated Erick Kapaito who had scored two consecutive goals in the last two matches coming into the game extended that run to three in three as he notched his seventeenth league league goal of the season, left back Vitalis Akumu stumbling in the box and presenting a very chance to Kapaito who did not hesitate to take the gift in the 14th minute.Stima, in response, moved foward to attack and stubborn winger Barron Oketch was brought down in the area leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot to hand the Kisumu based side a chance to restore parity in the game.Keeper Olang’o who was making just his second start for Sharks however denied the former Gor Mahia man as he saved to keep Sharks’ lead intact in the 21st minute.Kapaito soon showed Barron how a penalty is taken when he converted one awarded to Sharks after pass master Patillah Omoto was brought down by a rush tackle from the Stima defenders upon threatening to fire a shot on goal. The striker extending his goal count to eighteen for the season.A smart build up play from Stima saw Abdallah Juma’s men halve the deficit with seconds left on the clock to hand themselves a lifeline as youngster Rodgers Ouma got on the end of an inch perfect tantalizing cross from Akumu who made amends for his role in the opening goal.That goal seemingly pumped wind in Stima’s sails as they came out guns blazing upon resumption of the second half, thronging Sharks with endless attacking forays. The only missing piece was the final icing of the cake as they struggled to trouble the goalkeeper, twice coming close but just not enough to get the job done.Sensing danger in the match, Sharks head coach Willam Muluya introduced defensive pairing of Boniface Mwangemi and Erick Juma in place Ibrahim Ochieng’ and striker Reagan Odede in the 65th minute.Still Stima heaped pressure. Their efforts this time deservedly paid off in the 71st minute, Barron atoning for his penalty miss with a perfectly looped ball over the goalkeeper.Desperate to get something out of the match, Sharks tried to heap late pressure but Stima stood resolute to walk away with a point.
