HIGHLANDERS are just unstoppable!

The Bulawayo giants underlined their status as the Castle Lager Premiership team of the moment when they secured their first win at Maglas since 2001 with a deserved victory yesterday.

While they may have dominated their meetings against Shabanie at Barbourfields, Highlanders had not beaten the asbestos miners at Maglas since the asbestos miners won promotion into the Premiership 11 years ago.

But Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu yesterday achieved what he failed to do as a player with Bosso - beating Shabanie and crucially Highlanders increased their lead at the top of the table as old enemies and closet rivals Dynamos dropped two points after they were held to a goalless draw by Motor Action at Rufaro.

Bosso kept another clean sheet.

As the pendulum seems to be swinging to the Southern and Central Region's favour in football, Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, refused to talk about the championship.

Shabanie dictated the pace in the first five minutes but were caught on a counter attack by the visitors in the sixth minute. Milton Ncube, the Bosso hitman, opened the score sheet for the visitors when he ghosted in from the blind side to head the ball past the drawn out asbestos goalminder. A well-calculated cross from the right by Atlast Musasa caught Boniface Dimanji off guard to allow the striker to head the ball past goalkeeper Victor Twaliki.

After the goal Shabanie threw everything they had only to falter after 15 minutes, giving control to Highlanders who enjoyed the midfield battle which seems to be the weakest department for the Chinda Boys.

Graham Ncube's effort hit the woodwork in the 20th minute after Bosso had launched another raid and with goalkeeper Twaliki off his line, Ncube lobbed the ball past him only to see his effort hit the crossbar and Tafadzwa Mombeshora cleared the rebound for a corner that the visitors failed to convert.

The home team could have equalised in the 29th minute when Pervington Zimunya got the better of captain Innocent Mapuranga and fed Tarisai Rukanda who was lurking in the box but he fell and the onrushing Lennon Chisunga unleashed a shot that missed the target by inches with Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda at the other end of the action.

Highlanders troubled the hosts through hardworking midfielder Peter Moyo with the miners giving Highlanders a torrid time through Zimunya who was in terrific form.

Masimba Mambare could have increased the tally for the visitors in the 39th minute but his shot outside the box was tipped for a corner by Twaliki giving some relief to the home fans who were cheering the team all the way through.

Mazivise was unlucky not to have scored when he broke loose only for his shot to be saved by goalkeeper Sibanda in the 72nd minute when the home side was piling pressure on the visitors.

Graham Ncube sealed the scoreline for the visitors. Bruce Kangwa made a solo run on the left and swept past substitute Kudzanayi Kwashi who was in hot pursuit failing to put the ball into touch.

Kangwa then flighted a cross that the alert Ncube slotted past Twaliki to torch wild celebrations among the Bosso faithfuls who are cherishing the moment they will see their team on the podium popping the champagne bottles at the end of the season.

Teams
Shabanie: V Twaliki, B Dimanji, W Ngonya, R Mware, S Muchabayiwa, P Zimunya, T Mombeshora, L Chisunga (K Kwashi 73rd minute ), C Masocha(N Mazivisa 56th minute), T Rukanda, F Kanda (G Mchiwa 56th minute),

Highlanders: A Sibanda, B Kangwa, M Mambare, M Maphosa (D Ndlovu 83rd minute), I Mapuranga, P Moyo, E Mudzingwa, A Musasa (B Tshuma 64th minute), G Ncube, M Ncube, A Ndiweni (B Chikaka 50th minute).

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