Rangdajied United FC wins by a solitary goal as Nongkrem SC falls for their 5th straight defeat in the Gionee Shillong Premier League

Bansharai Sun’s fine form in front of goal continues as he scores his third goal in two matches to hand Rangdajied the win against a hapless Nongkrem SC side...

This wasn’t exactly what the Nongkrem players and the backroom staff would have expected when they were celebrating their promotion to Meghalaya’s elite league last season. Their life in the top tier league has been nothing but frustrating and humiliating. To go on without scoring a single goal in 5 matches with their backline also failing to keep a clean sheet in all these matches have showed nothing but the fact that their approach to the league has gone wayward somewhere along the way. It hasn’t always been the case of this team being outplayed or outmatched by the opponents. Truth be told, their problem has been their own inability to inflict damage to their opponents at the right time. Chances came calling for Nongkrem in the first half but their woeful form in front of goal meant they were unable to capitalise and it was Rangdajied who got looked more like the team to score. Nongkrem’s youngster Robert Khongjoh unleashed a ferocious curler in the 28th minute but failed to find the back of the net as it went inches wide. Melam Kharmujai then took advantage of the hesitation of one of the Rangdajied defenders and nearly gave them their first goal 40 minutes into the game but keeper Shambhu Mistry came off his line and did well to deny Melam. Four minutes later, Rangdajied caught them on the break and Khwetelhi Thopi was through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Thopi however, made a mess of his shot as the keeper made an easy save but skipper Bansharai Sun pounced on the rebound and after two or three attempts from close range with the keeper making fine point blank saves, Sun did well to power the ball home what would be the match winner in the 43rd minute of the match. Nongkrem SC, just like it’s been the case in most of their matches, failed to get a goal in second half as Rangdajied held on and went over the finish line. Monday’s fixture: Shillong Lajong FC versus Langsning FC