Ugandan forward Deogratious Ojok netted an hat-trick to inspire champions Tusker to a 4-1 win over Nairobi City Stars in a league clash staged at the Ruaraka grounds on Sunday. Tusker who following the three points have maintained their one hundred percent record in the season were forced to sweat for the win as they came from a goal down having conceded early. Samuel Kapen broke the deadlock barely three minutes into the game after rising high to head home a corner kick floated in by Herit Mungai.The goal saw the former Kibera Black Stars forward open his goal account in the top flight and the first for City Stars this season having lost the league opener 2-0 to Bidco United. Two minutes after the goal, Tusker had a strong shout for a penalty after Rooney Kola brought Shaphan Siwa down in the area but centre referee Nyabera Libese could not hear any of their pleas. Tusker drew level in the sixth minute through Deogratious Ojok who tapped in the ball from close range after the City Stars defense failed to clear a low ball from Siwa. Play was halted for a moment in the 18th minute after Tusker goalkeeper Patrick Matasi went down unchallenged but was cleared by the medics to carry on. Tusker had the ball inside the 26th minute through Siwa who headed a cross from Erick Zakayo but Libese shockingly chalked the goal off citing an infringement by the goal scorer. The incident drew protests from Tusker players who felt that they had been denied a genuine goal but couldn’t move the centre referee to rethink his decision. Tusker doubled their advantage in the 39th minute in a move similar to their first goal as Ojok who was unmarked at the farthest corner easily tapped in a low cross from Lawrence Luvanda. There was slight improvement in the City Stars upon return for the final stanza as the team managed to squeeze a number of balls past the defence but could not beat Matasi. Tusker struck home the third goal in the 59th minute through Ojok who became the first player to score an hat-trick this season. It is after netting the third goal that Tusker made changes that made it tough for City Stars who unsuccessfully tried breach the wall and reduce the deficit. Jackson Macharia who had come in the second half put the icing on the Tusker cake in the 89th minute, turning brilliantly in the box before sending the ball past the line to register his second goal of the season. Tusker XIPatrick Matasi, Isaac Kipyegon, Charles Momanyi, Rodgers Ouma, Shaphan Siwa(Jackson Macharia 55), Daniel Sakari, Boniface Onyango, Humphrey Mieno, Erick Zakayo (Shami Mwinyi 82), Lawrence Luvanda (Erick Mmata 55), Deogratious Ojok(David Majak 82)Unused substitutes Brian Bwire, Apollo Otieno, Stewart Omondi, Clyde Senaji, Kevin MonyiNairobi City Stars XI Jacob Osano, Calvin Masawa, Rooney Kola, Kennedy Onyango, Herit Mungai, Peter Opiyo (Clifford Ouma 87), Anthony Kimani, Newton Ochieng (Oliver Maloba 63), Samuel Kapen (Daniel Odhiambo 74), Ezekiel Odera (Vincent Otieno 63)Unused substitutes Stephen Njung’e, Rowland Makati, Edwin Buliba
