Sakpal, Chinkate salvage DBYC

MUMBAI, JUNE 23: Don Bosco Youth Centre B grabbed the two opportunities they got against Salvation Parish in a Mumbai District Football A...

MUMBAI, JUNE 23: Don Bosco Youth Centre B grabbed the two opportunities they got against Salvation Parish in a Mumbai District Football Association Division III B football match at St Xavier’s Ground, Parel today.

Sachin Sakpal and Suresh Chinkate found the mark, one in each half, while Narayan Thakur held their defence intact with some astute defending to prevent Salvation from retorting.

Anil Zalte’s centre from the right was flicked in by Prasad Pradhan to an advancing Sakpal to head in at the stroke of

half-time for DBYC to move one up.

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Pradhan’s quick feet guided him to a forward pass, leaving a trail of Salvation defenders grabbing at his heels in the 45th minute. Pradhan’s centre left Chinkate with little to do in front of an empty goal except tap in. He managed that.

Pradhan, for all his good work, could have made his way into the scorers’ list if he had not fallen in love with the ball. The right-half befuddled a host of defenders but refused to take a shot with a hapless goalkeeper AngleusPereira at his mercy in the 19th minute. He kept possession till Salvation boys regrouped and foiled any possible wreckage.

Chinkate’s right foot had Pereira stretching again four minutes later after Pradhan had set his team-mate up with a clear if a slightly distant chance. Chinkate shone again in the dying moments of the game with an individual exhibition of ball skills if not of shooting prowess. His shot missed the mark by a distance.

Salvation were seldom in the game, with Thakur and Rajesh Jagdankar standing firm in the DBYC defence. If they had any chance of salvaging the game, Ryan Fernandes exemplified their state — earnest intentions, little firepower. His well-controlled attempt was too far from the goal for it to bother DBYC goalkeeper Deepak Kamble in the 48th minute.