It was a mission accomplished for Ngezi Platinum coach Tonderai Ndiraya as his charges restricted champions Chicken Inn to a goalless draw at Babourfields stadium on Wednesday.

Ngezi Platinum came into the match with a tactical disciplined defensive play oblivious of the potential backlash by Chicken Inn who lost their previous match to Chapungu. The plan worked as the debutants held on to collect a valuable point away from against a more formidable opponent than Bulawayo City whom they beat in their previous visit to the city.

" We are on a mission to have the team stay in the premiership by avoiding relegation. We knew our opponents would come at us and we came up with a tactically defensive play. Our mission worked because, a point away from home against a team like Chicken Inn is very important," said Ndiraya.

Ngezi Platinum came into the match on the backdrop of three consecutive wins, since Ndiraya took over. The draw against Chicken Inn was the first for Ndiraya to drop a point but the former Dynamos coach was content with the result while his counterpart Rahman Gumbo was once again disappointed after failing to collect maximum points.

" Its disappointing once again to fail to win. They game here with a game plan to frustrate us and it really worked well for them. We tried hard but we could not breach them," said Gumbo.

A Humphrey Ncube first half strike was enough to propel Bulawayo City to victory over Border Strikers while Courage Denias scored the solitary goal that saw Triangle beat Chapungu. Caps United beat Tsholotsho 2-0 while Hwange stunned FC Platinum 2-1. ZPC Kariba continue to drop points after losing 1-0 to Harare City.

Bulawayo City edged Border Strikers 1-0 in a battle of the debutants at Barbourfields Stadium. Humphrey Ncube scored the solitary goal 65 minutes into the game. The match kicked off at 1pm before the Chicken Inn Ngezi Platinum Stars game.

Elsewhere, CAPS United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win against Tsholotsho at the National sports Stadium. hile Hwange stunned FC Platinum at the Colliery Stadium. A Leonard Tsipa penalty after Thandolwenkosi Ncube had handled inside the box and a Moses Muchenje goal ensured the Green Machine move to the top with 29 points.

FC Platinum lost their second game of the 2016 campaign going down 2-1 to Hwange at the Colliery. Gift Mbweti scored a brace for Chipangano while Rodwell Chinyangetere scored a consolation from the penalty spot, however there was late drama as Hwange finished the game with ten men after David Boriwondo was sent off for a second bookable offence.

In the Lowveld Courage Dennias’s goal five minutes from full time handed Triangle maximum points against Chapungu.

At Nyamhunga ZPC Kariba failed to utilise home advantage losing 1-0 to Harare City. Ronald Chitiyo scored for Moses Chunga’s side to collect maximum points following a run of 3 winless games.

Wednesday Results

Chicken Inn 0-0 Ngezi Platinum
Bulawayo City 1-0 Border Strikers
CAPS United 2-0 Tsholotsho
Hwange 2-1 FC Platinum
Triangle 1-0 Chapungu
ZPC Kariba 0-1 Harare City