State Bank of Travancore blanked Coastal Club 3-0 to remain unbeaten in the Thiruvananthapuram District Super Division League at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on Saturday.
Mohammed Shafi (25th and 70th) and Martin (60th) scored the goals for the winner. SBT rested several key players and played percentage football against tough tackling opponents.
But the bankmen even at half pace carried too many guns for their rival. SBT created several chances and Mohammed Shafi confirmed SBT’s superiority with a strike in the 25th minute.
However, Coastal managed not to concede another goal in the first half with its defensive tactics. Marin increased the lead in the 60th minute while Shafi scored his second in the 70th to complete the win.
In another match, St.Mary’s held Black Arrows to a 1-1 draw. St.Mary’s was the better side and created more chances but it was Black Arrows which went ahead against the run of play. Mahesh put his side ahead in the 70th minute converting the only chance Black Arrows created in the second half.
But St.Mary’s refused to be cowed down and fought back aggressively. Prasanth Simon scored the equaliser in the 75th minute. St.Mary’s could have won the match if it strikers were more accurate.
Source: The Hindu
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 9 August 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.