Bank of India keep State Cos at bay

Bank of India keep State Cos at bay
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, DEC 3: A spirited second-half display by Bank of India enabled them to hold Maharashtra State Police 1-1 in the Bombay Hockey Association Super League encounter at the Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate, today.

The policemen were sitting pretty with a first-half 1-0 lead and it looked as though the slender lead would suffice them in gaining all three points. But Bank of India, who had the major share of the exchanges in the second-half, quashed the policemen's hopes by coming up with the equaliser five minutes from full-time following their ninth penalty-corner.

MSP were right on top right through the first-half. They were first awarded a stroke in the 12th minute when BoI goalkeeper Conan Fernandes blocked Anklesh Yesur deep in the circle. But 'keeper Conan came to his side's rescue when he saved the weak push taken by left-half Abdul Shahid.

The policemen, however, did not get disheartened and attacked with renewed vigour. Their efforts bore fruit in the 23rd minute following a fine move betweenDhiraj Jog and Anklesh Yesur. The former neatly harnessed captain Azamat Shaikh with short square pass in the circle and Azamat had only to push home from close.

Bank of India had a lone scoring chance towards the end of the first-half. But centre-forward Stephen Maliakal shot wide of the target after he had neatly beaten two defenders on the left side of goal.

The bankmen, however, were an improved lot in the second session. They attacked with gusto from the outset and did not look back till they were eventually rewarded with the much-sought-after in the 65th minute.

The policemen did the mistake of replacing left-half Sahid with Chandrakant Patil. The latter failed to clear the ball after MSP goalkeeper Ajit Desai had blocked a penalty-corner shot and BoI right-winger Rohin Fernandes pounced on the opportunity by slamming the ball home from close to make it 1-1.