Vihiga Bullets complicated their chances of surviving relegation to the second tier after bowing 1-0 to Sofapaka at the Kasarani Annex grounds on Saturday afternoon.Following the loss, Bullets who were the better side in the second half will have to beat Police and Wazito in the remaining matches if they are to beat the drop. Coach Abdallah Juma rued tough luck and slow start for the loss but was optimistic of winning the remaining matches and remain in the league. “We did everything we could to come back in the game after conceding early but we were lucky not to score. It is not over until it is mathematically impossible for us. I am sure we will the last two matches and escape relegation,”he said. Sofapaka head coach David Ouma lauded his players for holding on the slim advantage up to the final whistle despite the pressure from Bullets.”We did well in handling Bullets whom we knew would do everything to win the game as they are fighting relegation. They fought hard after conceding but we defended well up to the final whistle,” he said.Sofapaka made a feast of Bullets sluggish start as they took the lead in the fourth minute through the on form Roddy Manga who tapped in from close range after the defence was caught napping. Nine-man Ulinzi Stars hold Bandari in KerichoThe hosts who looked comfortable from onset displayed free flowing football in what looked like a training session, knocked on Bullets door in search for the second goal forcing them to defend in numbers.It took Bullets close to half an hour to settle into the match after a series of spirited provocation from the technical bench who demanded for more from the players who had cold feet for the better part of the first half. Sofapaka were forced into a unwanted substitution in the 32nd minute as Titus Achesa limped off with a suspected knee injury with his place taken by Nixon Omondi. Achesa had made a number of good runs on the wing went down holding his knee and after a brief attention from the club’s doctor Ambrose Oriko, requested to be substituted. Jessy Kajuba who was among the lively Bullets players nearly drew his side level in the 37th minute after Kevin Sagida laid the ball to his path but the former shot straight to the waiting hands of Simon Masaka.Manga who was a thorn in the flesh of Bullets defense was hauled off before the second half began for Alex Imbusia, a change that saw Joe Waithira switch from the flanks to the centre.Bullets, stepped up in the second half following the introduction of the experienced Patrick Okulo who stabilized the midfield and helped in breaching the Sofapaka defense that had a relatively easy time in the first half.Masaka pulled a couple of decent saves as Bullets sought to salvage at least a point from the game and inch closer to safety.The former Soy United custodian denied Philip Muchuma from evening the scores as well punishing his former employer in the 74th minute as he threw his body on the line, blocking the goal bound shot from the experienced forward. Sofapaka contained the pressure from Bullets in the final minutes of the game to pick the tenth win of the season. Miheso’s double against Rangers keeps Police’s top ten dream alive
