Malki FC stays top of the table despite disappointing draw against Shillong Lajong FC in the Gionee SPL

Bantei Shylla gave Malki the lead in the 18th minute but they were unlucky to go into half time without the lead as Hardycliff Nongbri pulled a goal back for Lajong at the stroke of half time.

Both the teams failed to find the back of the net in the second half and the match ended as a draw. . The Lajong youngsters had a hard time coming up against an experienced Malki midfield as Malki dominated the early proceedings. The goal for Malki came in the 18th minute when Bantei Shylla scored from close range after some beautiful set up play by his teammates. The Lajong youngsters had chances to get an early equaliser as both Hardycliff Nongbri and Samuela Lalmuanpuia missed good opportunities. First it was Hardy whose low shot was tipped away by the Malki goalkeeper. Samuela then had a decent chance to equalise from a rebound ball that came off the crossbar but his diving header had too much elevation and it went over the crossbar. Lajong’s disappointments were increasing as half time approached but Bipin Singh sent in a delightful cross from the left flank into the path of Hardycliff Nongbri who headed in from close range to give Lajong a morale boosting goal just before half time. Lajong started the second half with a more direct and attacking approach and Samuela nearly scored in the first minute of second half but his shot from close range was rounded off the post by the Malki goalkeeper. Malki’s Bantei Shylla then nearly got his second of the game in the 56th minute but his out step shot went just wide off the goalpost. At the other end, a bad communication breakdown between a Malki defender and his goalkeeper gave Hardycliff a chance to score his second too but his first touch, which was unintentional let him down and he could only hit the side netting by the time he got a chance to shoot from a very tight angle. Both the teams defended brilliantly during the closing stages of the game and the strikers of neither of the team were able to find the back of the net as the match ended with a score line of 1-1. Malki sits at the top of the table with 13 points from 6 matches while Lajong youngsters who has a game in hand stands second in the table with 11 points from 5 matches and remains the only undefeated team in the Gionee Shillong Premier League. Tomorrow’s fixture: Nangkiew Irat SC Versus Meghalaya Police