Only Ascent Soccer unbeaten after Matchweek 4 in Season 2 of NBM Women’s Premiership

* Beat Nyasa Big Bullets Women 2-1 at Mpira Stadium on Sunday to accumulate 8 points while maintaining their 4th place on the log table

* They are one point behind the front runners, Civil Service Women, reigning champions Silver Strikers and Nyasa Big Bullets Women

* Who share nine points and separated through goal difference on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, respectively

By Duncan Mlanjira

Ascent Soccer are the only team still unbeaten after Matchweek 4 in NBM Women’s Premiership Season 2 in which they have won two games and also drew twice.

On Sunday, they beat Nyasa Big Bullets Women 2-1 at Mpira Stadium to accumulate 8 points while maintaining their 4th place on the log table.

They are one point behind the front runners, Civil Service Women, reigning champions Silver Strikers and Nyasa Big Bullets Women, who share nine points and separated through goal difference on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

These top three have each lost once, with Civil Women accumulating 13 goals and conceding four, Silver Ladies scoring 10 and conceding five while Bullets Women netted eight against three.

Last season, Ascent Soccer and Bullets Women each claimed the same 2-1 victories in each of their home assignments.

The hosts, Bullets Women went into the match on the back of a 3-1 victory over debutants FACT Ladies, while Ascent drew 3-3 with Mighty Wanderers Queens.

The visitors went into the lead just 13 minutes into the game through Maureen Kenneth from the penalty spot after they had put a lot of pressure on their hosts.

They went for the halftime break at 1-0 and Ascent doubled the lead in the 73rd through Mayamiko Mkandawire, who tapped in from close range a good delivery from Talandira Chinyamvula.

The Bullets Women pulled one back as a consolation goal in the 90+1′ through Swema John after receiving a good pass from Ireen Mbesa.

Played at the same venue, Kukoma Ntopwa Women beat Mighty Wanderers Queens 3-2 in a five-goal thriller before a large patronage.

Ntopwa’s international Olivia Phikani punished the Mighty Queens to take her team into the lead in the 1st minute following a defensive lapse by Wanderers.

In the 13th minute Zaytoon Kumbatira levelled the scores with a fine finish inside the 6-yard box following an assist from Estere January.

But Ntopwa restored their lead in the 19th through Takondwa Gambuleni assisted by Lydia Nchochoma but Mighty Queens fought on to level the scores once more.

Tawina Kawagah was the scorer in the 58th through an assist from Zaytoon Kumbatira in the box.

With five minutes to the regulation  clock, halftime substitute Shabel Bengo, known for her role in the Malawi Netball Queens, restored Ntopwa’s lead after beating international goalkeeper Esther Maulidi in a one-on-one affair.

Kukoma Ntopwa have accumulated six points to displace Wanderers on 5th place, moving from 7th where the Queens have been pushed to.

The Lilongwe derby on Saturday at Silver Stadium saw reigning champions Silver Strikers Ladies losing 3-2 to Civil Service United.

The visitors went into the lead in 18th through Mercy Vitumbiko Mkandawire following Jessie Yosefe’s assist and claimed her brace in the 42nd minute — again assisted by Yosefe.

In the 45+2’, international Madyina Nguluwe received the ball from Ruth Nyirongo at the edge of the D-zone and she unleashed a powerful curling effort into the far top corner to pull one back for Silver Strikers Ladies.

The visitors made it 3-1 in the 71st through Meneni Kapasule, who slotted home from close range connecting a beautiful pass from Anna Bazilio.

The reigning champions pulled out back in the 77th through international Ireen Khumalo, who unleashed a powerful effort from 25 yards after being set up by Wezzie Mvula.

On Thursday, October 15, NBM Women’s Premiership debutants celebrated Mother’s Day in style by recording their first win in their 4th appearance, beating experienced MDF Lionesses 2-1 and away at Nankhaka.

The Lionesses boast of three Malawi internationals, forward Asimenye Simwaka, defender Patricia Nyirenda and goalkeeper Yamikani Kaonga, who went into the match straight from national duty in Harare.

Asimenye scored the 6th goal when the Scorchers annihilated Zimbabwe 7-0  in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 qualifier in Harare while defender Patricia Nyirenda and goalkeeper Kaonga were unused subs.

But the rookies were on the front foot right from the start by taking the lead in the 3rd minute through Queen Kumwenda.

And she achieved it by going past international Patricia Nyirenda inside the box and fired past Scorchers’ second choice goalkeeper Yamikani Kaonga.

Three minutes later Selina Chawinga could have doubled Rumphi Sisters’ lead but her effort inside the box was blocked by Aisha John.

In four minutes of added time of the first half, Elikana Munthali doubled the lead after also beating defender Patricia Nyirenda and goalkeeper Kaonga.

Rumphi Sisters frustrated MDF Lionesses with their tenacious backline making it difficult for the hosts forwards to break through easily.

Ulemu Nkhonje intercepted a dangerous move from foward Asimenye Simwaka that could have led to a goal when she released a long ball towards the hosts half two minutes into the second half.

In the 66th, Selina Chawinga created a golden opportunity the third goal for her side when one-on-one with goalkeeper Kaonga but the international was quick to clear the ball off Chawinga’s foot.

Asimenye then fired a long range shot from outside the box in the 70th minute intending to pull one back but it sailed over the bar.

After those unsuccessful attempts that were thwarted by the resolute Rumphi defence, another international Catherine Kachala pulled one back for MDF Lionesses in the 76th minute to make it 2-1 after been assisted by Asimenye.

But Rumphi defended their lead to the end as in the 73rd a brilliant save from Rumphi Sisters’ goalkeeper Jane Nyirenda denied Asimenye’s effort a from near the corner flag by parrying shot away which could have sailed easily into the back of the net.

Kachala could have scored a brace to equalise for her side but her right footed shot from inside the box went straight into the palms of goalkeeper Jane Nyirenda.

There was another match on Mother’s Day at the same Nankhaka Stadium involving debutants, in which FACT Ladies cruised to a 3-1 victory over Chitoliro Heroines.

FACT Ladies’ sniper Evelyn Dallas opened the lead in the 13th minute when she slotted home a rebound after a counterattack.

Chitoliro then equalised in the 31st through Rachael Matemba after poor communication between a FACT Ladies defender and her goalkeeper to rest the scores equal at half time.

Three minutes after resumption, FACT Ladies retained their lead through Lunia after Chitoliro Heroines’ defenders poor clearance for the result to stay till the 90th minute of regulation time.

Then Joana Maloni scored the third  in 90+5 from a rebound after captain Evelyn Dallas unleashed a powerful shot.