MISTAKES galore from the Big Ben Football Club players as they deservedly lost their opening match of JSW-NDFA Elite Division to Nagpur Academy Football Club (NAFC) on Tuesday. Agile forward Mehul Sindram (36th, 70th) bulged the net once in each half while Alyosis Connor (45+2), who was brilliant at the front line, scored one in the second half to ensure NAFC take full three points. The consolation goal for Big Ben came from Giftson Saji (90+2) in the dying minutes of play. NAFC would have won by a much bigger margin had they not muffed scoring opportunities in the match. It took 36 minutes for NAFC to open their account when Abhishek Doifode gave perfect pass to Sindram who took a powerful left footer leaving an error prone Big Ben goalkeeper Nayeem Ansari fully stretched. Connor, who played a fabulous game showing his excellent dribbling skills, swift and fast movements, took advantage of a defensive lapse from Big Ben in the added time of the first half. Shamin Murry and Anshul Sahare made a mess of a back pass and lost the control of the ball at the centre line.

 

A cross from left was well collected by Sindram who fired in a grounder which Ansari could not stop. The West Nagpur Club’s defence was once again in tatters in the 70th minute when Connor found space in the defence wall and managed to sneak through with a solo attempt. It was a long pass from substitute Mohd Sabir Qureshi which a fast paced Connor gathered easily and once again managed to beat defender Shamin. He fired the ball from edge of the box to make it 3-0 for NAFC. On Wednesday: Young Muslim Football Club vs Ansar Club, Kamptee at 2.30 pm.