Blue Star ended their goal drought in emphatic fashion demolishing home town rivals Kalutara Park 6-0 at the Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara.
Yankson Richard scored two while E.B.Channa, Mohamed Farzeen, Mohamed Farhath and Shifakath Rahuman scored one each as Kalutara’s most illustrious club out classed and outplayed Kalutara Park.
Coming into the match Blue Star were in 8th place in group B with just 4 points from three matches and only a goal scored; that too from the penalty spot late in the match against Matara City. Kalutara Park has been having a wretched time in 10th place with one point from three matches without scoring any goals.
Blue Star kicked off in positive fashion attacking from the wings but Channa missed a few chances due to lack of judgment. However inside the first ten minutes Blue Star scored their first goal in open play this season with a stunner. Mohamed Rifkan’s long throw-in was flicked across the goal by Nasiru Opayemi and Mohamed Farzeen with his back to the goal, connected with an over-head kick leaving goalkeeper Supun Fernando rooted to the spot.
The stunning strike enlivened a strong crowd who had made their way on a weekday and did not have to wait for the second as Yankson Richard put in a powerful header from a Channa corner past Fernando at the near post.
With two goals down and under the pump, Kalutara Park had two back to back chances to score but was denied due to good goalkeeping by Mohamed Ansar from point blank range and a poor header.
The third came near the end of the first half when Richard’s ball into the box was cut back in by Degni Abraham for E.B.Channa for an easy tap-in for his first goal for Blue Star and for the season as Blue Star went into halftime with a healthy 3-0 lead.
It took until the hour mark for Blue Star to start scoring again in the second half with Richard cutting back the ball from the byline for Farhath to finish a first time side footed effort after replacing Captain Mohamed Najeem. 
Midway into the second half Degni Abraham showed good skill to get away from his marker and from the edge of the box crossed the ball on the volley for Richard to head in a perfect fifth goal to the corner leaving no chance for the goalkeeper.
With minutes remaining Blue Star added the sixth through another substitute and Sri Lanka youth player Shifakath Rahuman when connected a diving header from a Farzeen cross from the left.
Blue Star should have scored a few more goals but poor finishing in the first half denied them the opportunity and for Kalutara Park matches are running out for them to earn a few wins and leave the relegation zone.
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Yankson Richard
“We needed to win today as we had only four points from a possible nine. 6-0 is a big win so the guys are happy. We have only four days for the next match against Negombo Youth and we need to polish our finishing as we missed a few today too,” Mohamed Najeem told Thepapare.com after the match.
