Bandari crush Thika to put gloss on stellar campaign

On a bright Sunday afternoon at a sunbaked KPA Sports Club, Mbaraki, home club Bandari FC brought the curtains down to their stellar 2018 Kenyan Premier League campaign with a commanding display crowned by a crushing 5-1 win over relegated guests from Kiambu County, Thika United.

Veteran striker Wycliffe Ochomo ensured that the dockers went to the break carrying a 2-1 advantage after directing into the net a corner by the evergreen David King`atua at the stroke of half-time before substitute Yema Mwama bagged a brace in the 70th and 82nd minutes as Willy Lugogo also found the mark late, late in the game to wrap up the win.

Thika determined to put a face in the wake of their relegation from the top- tier flattered to deceive taking the lead in the seventh minute courtesy of James Kinyanjui`s delicious overhead kick.

Fed in the box, Kinyanjui who has been one of the few success stories in Thika if not in this match controlled the ball nicely before letting his boots roll high – literaly – to rifle in the opener to the top left corner beating opposing goalie Joseph Okoth.

It was a beauty of a strike and even the sizeable Bandari fans, enjoying a free entrance in the game couldn`t help but applaud.

Delicious as it was the goal could not last as a minute later Bandari were level when Bari Baraka`s calamitious headed back pass rolled into his own net.

Thika, now under the command of coach Gabriel Kingi had otherwise had a nervy start with goalkeeper Eliud Emase nearly gifting striker Ochomo an early goal in the fifth minute.

But shortly thereafter the steam quickly died making for a seesaw affair until the 28th minute when a Michael Mutinda`s lovely volley was punched out by Bandari goalie for a unsuucessful corner.

Bandari, despite a stellár run in the second leg and with a runners berth all but assured even if they had lost this contest left nothing to chance with stopper and skipper Felly Mulumba, King`atua, Michael Luvutsi et al being paraded.

In the 63rd minute Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala rested Ochomo for Joshua Oyoo as Kingatua gave way to Yema Mwama who tormented the timid enemy with little grace.

Oyoo`s major contribution if it can be deemed so was rifling his effort horrendously wide off the right channel after he`d been played through barely a minute after coming in.

Courtesy of the win, the dockers wrapped their season ón 62points, behind champions Gor Mahia while Thika went to the lower tíer ón a paltry 23 points from 34 matches.