July 10: Chandrakant Poojary's opportunism carved out a 2-0 victory for Bank of India (BoI) over Western Railway in the Gulf Oil WIFA Super Division football league at the Cooperage, today.

The bustling striker made one goal and scored the other to loosen Western's stranglehold on the match before fetching the bankmen their second win in six matches and their ninth point. Western Railway have drawn a blank from three games played so far.

Western set a scorching pace that left BoI gasping for breath. The railway outfit, however, undid their domination by frittering away fine scoring opportunities. This prodigality was to prove their doom. Western's played football like basketball. They pressured BoI in their own half, won many balls, relayed it quickly upwards and caught the BoI defence napping.

Kaushik Pal was the lynchpin in most forays but he missed the first chance when he tapped back a volley when a firm leg was needed. Then the hyperactive EV Preman failed to pack power into a cross from Iman-ul-Haq on the right.

At the other end, Western's goal survived narrowly when Sayeed Shaikh's effected a goalline save to deny Poojary, trying to bury a rebound.After the break, Western's ambitious start gave BoI the hebee-jebees Juzino Peris' back volley stretching alert goalkeeper Kiran Shetty.BoI scored against the trend when Sandesh Pelnekar brought down Poojary and David Cardoz converted the resultant penalty.

BoI missed forging further ahead when the lethargic Anton Saldanha failed with a good chance but Western Railway attempts to punish the bankmen for the miss were thwarted by Shetty, yet again displaying fine reflexes.Western continued to pile pressure on pressure but the misses continued. Siraj Shaikh flicked to Kaushik Pal who swivelled and fired a volley onto the bar.

Off the next move, Siraj once again crossed and Kaushik set up the better-placed Preman in the box whose meaty shot was blocked by Shetty.Poojary scored the second goal in the 81st minute with a classic piece of finishing. Navin Kotian on the left pushed forward to Poojary in the box. Poojary advanced, found space past his marker and slotted in from a acute angle.

In a First Division match, Fr Agnel and Indian Cultural League drew 1-1. Terence Thomas scored for Fr Agnel while Rajesh Rane did so for ICL.PSS PREVAIL: Personal Search Services outclassed Bombay Republicans 3-0 in a Second Division MDFA football match at the St Xavier's Ground, Parel, today. Eddie Gabral, Ceasar Fernandes and Nicholas Gomes scored. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Division I league match, between BEST and Scorpions ended goalless.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.