Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 01:
Hockey Union Lairikyengbam Leikai and KhSC, Khongman overcame their respective rivals by slender margins in the 5th L Dinachandra Memorial First Division Hockey Tournament being played at Khuman Lampak Hockey Stadium.
In the first match of the day KhSC edge overcame YAC by 3-2 in a keenly contest match while HU defeated MPSC by same margin in other match.
L Dinachandra drew first blood for KhSC in the 2nd minute through a penalty corner with L England followed soon with a field goal three minute later.
Riding on two goal lead in the initial minute, KhSC added one more goal in the 19th minute through a penalty corner off M Samudrajit.
YAC fought back with a goal in the 31st minute by N Jiten through a field goal.
O Tiken added another goal to the tally to reduce the margin to 3-2 in the 44th minute through a penalty corner.
However, their late fought back could not save the match and slipped away as KhSC put a strong defence line-up in the later part of the second half.
Lack of penalty corner specialist bogged down YAC change of increasing the tally with the team receiving 10 penalty corners and converting only one.
In the other match Ng Mahabir sounded the board for Hockey Union for the first time in the 12th minute through a field goal and open the team account.
Five minute later Ch Nipolian added one goal in the 17th minute through a penalty corner.
The police replied came late with Naobi scoring for the team in the 32nd minute through a field goal.
As the police team tried all the tricks in the book to equalise the margin, HC sounded one more goal to take the score to 3-1 in the dying minute of lemon break.
MPSC reduced the margin 3-2 in the first minute of the second half with Gunamani sounded the board through a penalty corner.
HU defended their lead till the end of the match with strong defence added by occasional counter attacks.