Second half goals by Chamod Dilshan and Clement Fernando capped off a typical S.Benedict’s display as they defeated Nalanda College at the Baddegana Football training complex.
Bens had the majority of possession throughout the match but failed to create any clear cut chances in the opening half. Nalanda sat deep in their half and played on the counter but lacked pace to cause problems for the Bens defense.
After initial exchanges, it was Clement Fernando who had the first opportunity for the Bens after Chamod Dilshan ran down the left wing cut inside and passed to Clement but his effort was blocked. It was the only action for the first 18 minutes of the game as the lads from Kotahena were happy to keep ball and pass it around.
In the 20th minute Nalanda’s Dhananjaya De Silva played an inch perfect diagonal ball to R. Imesha on the right who beat his only marker to go one on one with goalkeeper Pasindu Tharanga, but his effort was straight at the keeper. Nalanda were playing the game through their creative force Dhananjaya De Silva who has good dribbling skills; but sometimes his indecision and failure to pass to open players let the team down.
After a poor goalkick by S.Benedict’s, which fell to Dhananjaya looked as if he would finish it with a goal. He went past two defenders and tried an audacious lob over the keeper when he had support on the right. The lob was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 36th minute Bens had the ball in the net but was ruled as a foul in the initial play when Clement Fernando fouled the goalkeeper.
In the second half S.Benedict’s started the half with more urgency and created a chance when Clement crossed into the box but the diving captain Lakshitha Fernando couldn’t guide it at the far post. Thereafter Chamod Dilshan had a couple of efforts which went just over the bar.
S.Benedict’s were rewarded for their constant pressure when Chamod Dilshan brilliantly curled a left footed effort over the wall to the left top corner from a free kick to give a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute. Ten minutes later Clement Fernando doubled the lead after he lashed on to a through ball by Geston Fernando and guide it past the goalkeeper. With Nalanda’s lack of fitness showing it was an easy final stretch for the hosts who bagged a valuable three points.
