Last season’s runners up KCB denied Tusker FC a chance to cut down Kakamega Homeboyz’s lead at the top of the table to a temporary three points as they held the reigning champions to a colourless barren draw in a midweek league encounter played at the Kasarani Annex on Tuesday afternoon.With both sides coming into the match on the back of confident wins, the two sides could not outsmart each other as they ended up sharing a point each in the contest.The opening half of the game witnessed a very sluggish display from the last season’s two top finishers as they failed to create anything of value in the danger area.For the entire half, it is KCB who only had a sniff on the 19th minute when an ill judged power strike from foward Derrick Otanga went just wide off the goal when the striker could have had better returns with a placed shot.Frustrated by the lacklustre proceedings from his side, Tusker head coach Robert Matano made a first half change as he brought in experienced midfield general Humprey Mieno in place of Clyde Senaji on the 35th minute in a bid to regain control of the park.Still, it is the Bankers who created the better chances in the game but they could not utilize as the two teams went into the interval with the deadlock begging to be broken.Upon second half’s resumption, the reigning champions emerged a slightly better side as Mieno dictated play from his measured boot.They almost came close to stealing the lead after Apollo Otieno made a weaving run into the area but could not just beat David Okello in the KCB goal as the keeper was forced into a smart low save to protect his clean sheet in the 53rd minute.The game dropped into a lull once again until nine minutes to time when Mieno this time made a goal saving tackle to block Reagan Otieno’s attempt that was destined for the back of the net.Despite a late Tusker attempt from defender Jimmy Mbugua that was comfortably handled by Okello, both sides were forced to settle for a point apiece in the uneventful encounter.”Getting a point against Tusker is not a bad result for us. We controlled the game from the first whistle to the end but unfortunately we could not use the chances we had. Mwangi had a very good chance to steal points at the death but he hit the post with his attempt,” KCB coach Zedekiah Otieno said.”We had a lot of changes in the squad due to injuries. At least four to five which made us struggle a bit. In the bit we will have to settle for the point that we got,” Tusker boss Matano offered.KCB Starting XIDavid Okello, Baraka Edage, Dennis Odhiambo, Robinson Kamura, Nahashon Nanyendo, Michael Mutinda, Mohammed Kilume (Oduor 88′), Brian Ndenga(Mwangi 64′), Derrick Otanga (Lokale 68′), Henry Onyango (Reagan 68′), James Mazembe (Mwangi64′)Substitutes: Andika Gabriel, Hillary Wandera, Simon Munala, Samuel Mwangi, Sydney Lokale, John Mwangi, Reagan Otieno, Michael Oduor, Harun Thomas, Allan Akendo, Victor OmondiTusker Starting XIPatrick Matasi, Jimmy Mbugua, Isaac Kipyegon, Christopher Oruchum, Charles Momanyi, Shaphan Oyugi (Macharia 65′), Clyde Senaji(Mieno 35′) Apollo Otieno, John Njuguna(Luvanda 65′), Eric Zakayo(Ojok 65′), Ibrahim JoshuaSubstitutes: Michael Wanjala,Kalos Kirenge, Wellington Ochieng, Humprey Mieno, Jackson Macharia, Shami Mwinyi, Deogratius Ojok, Luvanda Lawrence, Stewart Omondi
