Kids XI earn full points with 2-0 win

PUNE, Dec 7: Sappers Line Bazaar, Khadki, had a hard fought 2-1 win over Chikalwadi Young Boy's Club, while Kids XI earned full points af...

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PUNE, Dec 7: Sappers Line Bazaar, Khadki, had a hard fought 2-1 win over Chikalwadi Young Boy’s Club, while Kids XI earned full points after they defeated 512 Army Base Workshop 2-0 on the second day of the KUM Industries sponsored Maharashtra Hockey League junior division at the PCMC Polygras stadium, Nehrunagar today.

In the first fixture, both Sappers and Chikalwadi from Khadki showed some good stick-work. Centre-forward Ebrahim Shaikh put Sappers in the lead in the 14th minute when he got a clear pass from centre-half Sameer Gaikwad who made no mistake in sounding the board.

Chikalwadi found the equalizer in the 21st minute. Left-out Vishwas Pillay made a long run on the flank line and took a cracking shot towards unmarked centre-forward Selvaraj Pillay who deflected the ball into the post.

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After the lemon time, both the teams were seen trying to end the match with equal points as they played a slow and a defensive game. In the 53rd minute it was Ebrahim again who made it 2-1 off right-half Kadir Shaikh’s pass.

In the second encounter the experienced Army Men could not hold up the young and speedy Kids. The latter’s forward-line, with Kaustubh Shirke, Shakur Shaikh and Mahendra Sawant charged many times and gave 512 some anxious moments, but keeper N T Kale was strong enough to effectively clear numerous definite goals.

Kids XI took the lead in the 14th minute when left-out Kaustubh neatly received the ball coming from centre-forward Shakur Shaikh and made no mistake in pushing the ball into the post.

The 512 players also missed some good scoring chances. One such instance was when centre-forward Rawat simply had to push the ball but his impatience made it go wide away from the goalpost.

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After the regular break Army Base workshop players were running short on stamina but played with the advantage of past experience and restricted the opponents. In the 56th minute, right-in Mahendra Sawant collected the pass supplied by Kaustubh to end the match.

Results
VOBA XI 7 (Clement D’Souza 3, Sarvesh Mutha and Patrick D’Souza 2 each) bt Seven Star Club 0; Sappers Line Bazaar 2 (Ebrahim Shaikh 2) bt Chikalwadi Young Boy’s Club (Selvaraj Pillay) 1; Kids XI 2 (Kaustubh Shirke and Mahendra Sawant) bt 512 Army Base Workshop 0.