BULAWAYO - Chicken Inn  beat fancied CAPS United in a Castle Lager Premiership encounter yesterday.

Speedy striker Tendai Ndoro secured the maximum points for the hosts with an opportunistic strike on 77 minutes to leave Gamecocks gaffer Mandla Mpofu a relieved man.

"This victory comes as a huge relief after our recent run of poor results and today luck was on our side unlike in the last few games when we were playing very well but failing to take chances," an ecstatic Mpofu said after the match.

Chicken Inn had failed to collect points in their last three league outings that preceded yesterday's match while CAPS United were on a high after rising up to third position on the log on the back of two
consecutive wins.

The match was a balanced affair from the onset with both teams giving as much as they were taking.

Ndoro had a chance to open the scoring for the hosts on 19 minutes but directed his effort wide from a Marshal Marima cross.

Exciting CAPS left linkman Tafadzwa Mahori then tested Chicken Inn keeper Njabulo Nyoni with a long range effort on 25 minutes but the eccentric shot stopper proved equal to the task.

Former Monomotapa midfielder Joseph Mutambiranwa then saw his effort blocked for a corner after being sent through by Hardlife Zvirekwi.

The visitors went on to force three successive corner kicks but failed to find a breakthrough.

Zvirekwi got injured in the second half and had to make way for David Rediyoni on 75 minutes.

And two minutes later the Warriors player had left the field the hosts surged ahead courtesy of a lucky strike from Ndoro.

The Chicken Inn striker found himself in possession in the visitors penalty box and dribbled his way into a very acute angle from where he took a shot at goal.

The ball then rolled across the goal mouth and then hit the right upright before crossing the goal line.

Ndoro then had an opportunity to extend his team's lead on 80 minutes but saw his effort saved by expirienced CAPS shot stopper Tafadzwa Dube.

Second half substitute Mkhokheli Dube had combined with Kuda Mahachi to set up Ndoro.

CAPS head coach Taurai Mangwiro was gracious in defeat.

"Its just one of those days. We tried everything but things did not go our way," Mangwiro said.

"It did not help matters that we had to make a forced change when we brought out Zvirekwi who had been taking the game to our opponents."

Chicken increased their points tally to 10 points after their victory over CAPS and Mpofu bodly declared his side to be back on track in their quest for honours at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Triangle and Monomotapa drew 2-2 at Gibbo Stadium. - Sakheleni Nxumalo