CALCUTTA, MARCH 4: It turned out to be easier than expected for Mohun Bagan. They crossed their 19th round hurdle of the National Football League rather comfortably on a sultry afternoon at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan here in Calcutta. Their opponents, JCT MIlls of Phagwara, had no excuses on Saturday after they lost 1-3 to the favourites. Adding to the injury was a late Bagan charge which hit the JCT cross-piece.Bagan now have 41 points and are firmly on path for their second National League title.If the Punjab team had a reason to cry foul while going down through a controversial penalty in their previous match against Salgaocar, they could hardly challenge the 18th minute penalty award against them which led to Bagan's first goal.Stephen Abarowei went after the ball inside the JCT box while defender Ranjit Singh brought the Nigerian down. The burly Abarowei came down in a heap and the referee pointed towards the dreaded spot. Igor Shkvirin converted it calmly for his seventh goal of the League.The goal found a furious JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh jumping out of his seat. He screamed instructions virtually leading the attacks from the side-line. This might have had a negative effect on the JCT players' nerves as they became shaky once they reached the Bagan box.Before the spot-kick, JCT had a few telling attacks to show, including a Hardip Saini punch in the seventh minute which hit the rival framework.However, the spot-kick changed the complexion and Bagan gradually took the match in their grasp. The second Bagan strike in the 35th forced Sukhwinder to go back to his seat, perhaps with a sinking feeling that the match was as good as lost.Amitava Chanda lofted the ball into the JCT box and as Abarowei rose, so did his marker Ranjit Singh. Eventually, the ball kissed Ranjit's forehead before falling just outside the six-yard box. RP Singh, the agile Bagan medio, sneaked in unnoticed foxed Sukhdev Singh before sending it diagonally into the net. It was a beautiful goal and RP Singh knew it. He consciously walked towards the flagpost, allowing his colleagues to jump on him.Sukhwinder, his energy drained, watched the rest of the first half in a dejected mood and reserved the rest of his instructions for the half-time sermon.Apparently, the sermon was not enough as goalkeeper Baljit Singh blundered in the 59th to concede the third goal. Receiving a pass from Shkvirin, Basudev Mondal unleashed a boomimg 30-yard pile driver. Baljit was in position as the ball landed straight in his arms. Surprisingly and before Baljit could even move, the ball popped out of his hands and went inside the goal. As the goalkeeper held his head in dismay, Mondal sported an amused grin.JCT pulled one back in the 85th after Jaswant Singh ran away to the left and centred for Hardip Gill, who put the ball into the Bagan net. The scorers did not have much energy left to celebrate.Finding JCT increase men in attack, Bagan coach Subroto Bhattacharya introduced two speedy pairs of fresh feet. Abdul Khalque and Dipendu Biswas ensured that the visiting defenders stay back. As if to test the defence, Dipendu's snapshot in the 90th minute crashed against the cross-piece and could not add to the scoreline.
