Gor Mahia suffered their second league defeat of the season as they went down 1-0 to Bandari in an FKF Premier League clash at Mbaraki Grounds in Mombasa on Saturday afternoon.
As a result, Bandari are now seven points behind league leaders Gor Mahia, and they could maintain the second spot if third-placed Tusker, who have a game in hand, drops points against AFC Leopards.
Bandari made no changes to the team, as the same men who defeated Shabana 2-0 in their last outing were on duty at the same venue.
Jonathan McKinstry made two changes to the team that faced Posta Rangers with Patrick Sibomana and Ernest Wendo returning to the starting line-up.
The encounter got off to a slow start, although Gor Mahia started asserting their dominance after 10 minutes.
John Baraza’s side were quite content to let K’Ogalo have the ball, while they attacked on the counter with Francis Kahiro and Abdallah Hassan.
Gor Mahia went close in the 23rd minute when Austin Odhiambo’s free-kick from outside the area sailed just wide of Joseph Ochuka’s upright.
Bandari took control of the match following a cooling break and Omondi became a very busy man as the Dockers searched for the opening goal.
The home side should have gone ahead in the 34th minute when Ochuka’s long ball found Kahiro, who placed his effort wide of the upright with Kevin Omondi to beat.
Omondi was then beaten six minutes later after the visitors failed to defend their lines, and Fidel Origa scored with Shashiri Nahimana providing the assist to make it 1-0 to Bandari.
The hosts pushed for their second goal after taking the lead with Michael Opundo delivering a cross for Abdallah, who hit the side-netting in the 44th minute.
Bandari were leading 1-0 at the interval having contained Gor Mahia in the first half, and an enthralling second half followed.
Gor Mahia nearly found an equalizer 10 minutes into the second half when Sibomana beat Ochuka to the ball but ended up directing his inches wide of the upright.
With K’Ogalo struggling to break down Bandari, McKinstry introduced the skillful Musa Masika and Christopher Ochieng’ while Edward Satulo went on for Bandari.
Omondi came to Gor Mahia’s rescue in the 76th minute, as he came rushing off his line to deny Francis Kahiro in the 12-yard area.
McKinstry’s charges pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages of the second half, but K’Ogalo struggled to break down a stubborn Bandari defense.