Gor Mahia maintained their perfect run in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) with a 1-0 victory over Bandari FC in a match played at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Friday afternoon.
K’Ogalo were hoping to maintain their unbeaten run in the league, while Bandari was looking to secure their eighth win of the season.
From their previous five matches, Gor Mahia had secured victories against FC Talanta, Muhoroni Youth, and Kariobangi Sharks, while they had drawn against Nzoia Sugar.
Bandari, on the other hand, were still in a celebratory mood following their 2-0 win over Murang’a Seal last weekend in Mombasa.
Gor Mahia generally enjoyed more possession through the first quarter of the match, though clear chances with which to test Bandari goalkeeper Joseph Ochuka were hard to come by.
The visitors, meanwhile, offered a potent threat on the counter attack through the pace of Shassiri Nahimana, but rarely executed cleanly when given a chance to move from back to front quickly.
One such example arose on the half-hour mark when a K’Ogalo corner ended in a swift attack for Bandari, but Nahimana having sprinted free of the defence down the right, pulled his effort well wide.
Seconds later the Burundi international striker had another chance, and this time his well-struck effort stung the palms of goalkeeper Kevin Omondi.
On 35 minutes Benson Omala had the hosts first notable effort on target, striking for the top corner from outside the area but Ochuka made a fine save to keep the score line blank.
K’Ogalo cranked up the pressure in the dying minutes of the first half, but the Dockers were able to hold firm and see the game level at 0-0 heading into the interval.
Bandari were the better side after the restart and Derick Nsibambi came close to grabbing his seventh goal of the season when his looping header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Kevin Omondi.
Shortly after the hour mark, McKinstry made several changes bringing in Ernest Wendo, Patrick Kaddu and Rogers Mugisha for Lawrence Juma, Benson Omalla and Patrick Sibomana.
With 20 minutes remaining, Gor Mahia piled on the pressure leaving themselves vulnerable on the counter attack. In an attempt to capitalise on the openness of the encounter, the Bandari technical team threw on South Sudan international Jackson Dwang for Robert Onyango.
Rogers Mugisha had a chance to find the back of the net, but after brilliantly bypassing the Bandari defence, his effort lacked the desired execution.
Omondi had to be at his best four minutes later to keep Nahimana’s attempted clearance from finding a winner. Juma then missed from point-blank range as Bandari began to knock on Gor Mahia’s door.
A draw seemed like the likely result, but with 10 minutes left in the match, there was always a chance of late drama, and it was Gor Mahia who capitalized on an opportunity as attacking midfielder Austin Odhiambo fired past Ochuka.
Bandari pushed for the equalizer but were dealt a major blow with two minutes remaining to the end of the match as Brian Odera received his marching orders for a second bookable offense.