HARARE - Dynamos continued with their march towards their second Castle Premiership title in two years after they dismissed nine-man Black Mambas with a clinical display yesterday.

Goals from Simba Sithole, Timire Mamvura and Cliff Sekete ensured DeMbare maintained their two point lead over Highlanders, who beat Buffaloes 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

DeMbare now move to 62 points while Bosso are on 60 with three games to go before the season ends.

The stage is now set for an intriguing finale with Dynamos still to meet Monomotapa, Buffaloes and Hardbody in their remaining three matches.

On the other hand, Highlanders still have to play Hardbody, Platinum and Blue Rangers in their quest to wrestle the title away from DeMbare.

Yesterday’s match was a strong response from the log leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosso at the weekend.

Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya was pleased with the way the team got about their business in dismantling the police outfit.

“We carried off from where we left off on Sunday. Against Highlanders it’s only the goals that eluded us but today that should set the tone to the brutal end to the championship race,” Ndiraya told reporters after the match.

“In the first half it wasn’t so easy. We struggled a bit until we got that goal which settled our nerves. From there on everything became easy.

“It took long for our guys to settle partly because of the pitch but I thought they were under too much pressure coming from Sunday’s game, which was an explosive match.

“Most of our players are still young and they are getting used to playing in such big games but once we got that goal everything became settled.”

Dynamos started slowly and could have fallen behind in the 24th minute but had goalkeeper George Chigova to thank after he blocked Kasimero Chimbadzwa’s effort.

Chigova, who was at fault for the Bosso equaliser at the weekend, redeemed himself when used his feet to stop the low shot from the Mambas midfielder from close range.

At that stage, the home side was enjoying a lot of possession but they failed to make it count in front of goal.

Warumwa Warumwa were duly punished for their lack of clinical finishing when Sithole opened the DeMbare account in the 35th minute.

Denver Mukamba and Sekete exchanged a quick one-two on the edge of the box before the later broke free to go one-on-one with Mambas goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga.

The Mambas goalkeeper got a foot to Sekete’s effort but the ball fell kindly to Sithole, who had eluded his marker at the back post for an easy tap in.

Five minutes after the break, Dynamos increased their lead through an unlikely source when holding midfielder Timire Mamvura’s long range shot was spilled into the net by Mateyaunga.

When the ball left Mamvura’s boot it looked harmless and everyone in the stadium thought the Young Warriors goalkeeper had it covered.

To their surprise, the ball bounced off Mateyaunga’s chest and rolled into the net.

Sekete made sure of the points for DeMbare when he scored the third with an opportunistic strike in the 73rd minute.

The Dynamos midfielder capitalised on a loose clearance by Mambas captain Sam Mutenheri and his low shot was too strong for Mateyaunga to keep out.

Moments after that goal the home side were reduced to nine-man after Mutenheri and Tawanda Muswere were sent off by referee Pedzisai Chadya.

The drama started in the 79th minute when Mambas were awarded a corner kick.

An altercation between both sets of players in the Dynamos box ended up with Chigova going down holding his hand.

Chadya sent off Muswere for the alleged assault on the DeMbare goalkeeper while at the same time he also booked Mutenheri for protesting.

The Mambas captain continued with his complaints and was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off before the corner kick was taken.

After the defeat Mambas dropped to 12th place on the log and are now just three points ahead of Gunners, who occupy the last relegation slot.

Warumwa Warumwa assistant coach Martin Bonongwe was not pleased with Chadya’s performance.

“In the end we are very disappointed with the result. We had hoped to collect maximum points since we are fighting against relegation and playing at home,” he said.

“What I can say about the referee today is that I am not happy.

“We are not satisfied with the officiating at all.”

Castle Premier League results
 
Black Mambas 0-3 Dynamos
Highlanders 1-0 Buffaloes
Motor Action 2-0 Quelaton
Gunners 1-0 Monomotapa
CAPS united 0-0 Harare City
Chicken Inn 5-1 Blue Rangers
Hwange 5-1 Hardbody
Shabanie Mine 0-0 FC Platinum