A-I regain top spot with win over IB

Indian Bank were a man down in the 40th minute as their captain V P Sathyan was sent out for deliberately handling the ball on a free-kick from Pereira. He was booked earlier in the match for a infringement on Anthony Fernandes. It is the second consecutive occasion that the former Indian captain has been sent out at the Cooperage. The last one was during the Rovers Cup against Goa’s Sesa SC.

Referee Gulab Chauhan awarded a penalty in favour of A-I. Subir Sinha’s grounder beat Indian Bank custodian Sebestian Netto.

A-I medio Khambiton Singh put his team ahead in the 20th minute when he received a parallel pass from striker Fernandes on the top of the striking area. Fernandes was fed by Periera. Khambiton eluded the four defenders and tapped the ball home on the run.

Eight minutes later, Amul Raj brought his team back in the game with a fine header. Substitute Selva Kumar put nippy Hamilton Bobby through on the right flank. Bobby curled the pass to onrushing Raj, who with a perfectly placed header, gave no chance to A-I custodian Shyam Sawant.

Periera, with his superb ball distribution, made the bankmen run for their money. He effectively shifted from one flank to the other and yet kept constant pressure on the visitors.

Custodian Sawant made a brilliant save for the home side. In the dying minutes, the bankmen were awarded a free-kick and Bobby curled the ball over the wall to the right of Sawant, who dived full length to collect the ball.

A-I coach Bimal Ghosh was pleased with the result and the performances but felt they could have scored more goals. He had a word of praise for Dennis George whom Ghosh felt did a good job checking Syed Sabir Pasha.

Indian Bank coach Albert Fernando appreciated Sawant’s efforts. “He stood between us and the equaliser.”

Indian Bank manager P Sunder said he was not happy with the referee decision to award a penalty. He stressed: “The ball hit Sathyan’s hand and not the other way around.”