Nangkiew Irat signs off first leg of the season in emphatic fashion as they hit three past Langsning FC

Roikhih Nongtdu’s brace and Stephen Harry’s second half strike enough to see Langsning off as Nangkiew Irat wins three games on the bounce in the Gionee Shillong Premier League. Ronnie Nongbri scored from the spot for Langsning..

Nangkiew Irat was without a win in their first four matches but has finished the first leg of the season on a high as they registered their third win in as many games, comfortably seeing off a lacklustre Langsning side. Nangkiew Irat, at the back of two convincing wins against Meghalaya Police and Nongkrem FC was brimming with confidence and was the better team right from the first whistle. Their agility and their tempo was just top notch and too much for Langsning to handle. They got a free kick from a very good distance 3rd minutes into the game but it went to waste as the ball was fired over the crossbar. Just three minutes later Langsning also got a free kick on the left flank and Ronnie Nongbri whipped in a beautiful in swinging ball which was met by Rodingson Snagma’s head that came agonisingly close to finding the net. Langsning then had their last sniff of goal of the first half in the 17th minute when Elminho Kilong got half a chance to score from a header but a little nudge in the back by a Nangkiew Irat defender saw his headed effort go wide. It was all Nangkiew Irat after this as the underdogs went about running out the Langsning players. They scored in the 33rd minute and the players were running off to celebrate when the linesman flagged their goal for offside. They however got their deserved lead just three minutes later when Roikhih Nongtdu made the most out of the confusion between the Langsning defenders and their goalkeeper and slotted home from close range. Nangkiew Irat went into half time with the deserved lead for their relentless pressing. They came out with the same gusto and their tireless running paid off as Stephen Harry doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half. Langsning’s chances were restricted to dead ball situations and Ronnie Nongbri, the Langsning dead ball and long range specialist was unlucky not to score a few minutes later when his free kick rattled off the crossbar. He however pegged a goal back from the spot in the 72nd minute when Wallam Nongkhlaw, who had come in after the break was brought down inside the box by the Nangkiew Irat keeper. The goal led to Lansning players believing they could get an equaliser and they committed men forward. This proved to be costly as Nangkiew Irat often outnumbered them in the counter attack and had more width in attack. Stephen Harry nearly doubled his lead but saw his headed effort somehow saved by the Langsning custodian. Moments later, Nangkiew Irat’s Reson Malngiang got on through to goal but his lobbing attempt went over the crossbar. Nangkiew Irat however weren’t to rue this missed opportunity as just moments later they won possession back and Roikhih Nongtdu rounded off the keeper and slotted home for his second, 5 minutes from normal time. Nangkiew Irat got their two goal cushion back and never looked like throwing their lead away as they ran out deserved winners for their emphatic and energetic display. The match saw the curtains of the first leg of the Gionee Shillong Premier League being drawn in a befitting manner and the second leg will commence from the 26th of September when table toppers Shillong Lajong take on Rock Bottom team Nongkrem S&CC.