Shillong Lajong FC climbed back to the top of the Shillong Premier League 2024 standings with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Sawmer SC at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here today.
The other match of the day was an entertaining but goalless draw between Laitkor SC and Langsning FC.
Lajong took the lead via Yohaan Benjamin (58’), doubled it with an own goal (62’), had a penalty converted by Babysunday Marngar (72’P) for their third and then scored a fourth with a heavy deflection from a Mebannangkiew Thabah (88’) shot. Orestar Sad (77’P), meanwhile, netted Sawmer’s only goal from the penalty spot.
It was not Lajong’s best performance but it got the job done and they now have 13 points, tied with Mawlai SC but with a better goal difference (+10 to +8), though Mawlai have a game in hand. Sawmer drop to third with 11 points and they have played more matches than any other team – today was their seventh outing.
A deadlocked first 45 minutes saw Yohaan denied by opposition goalkeeper Pyrshangbanbha Dkhar and Sawmer’s Shanmeiaki Warlarpih scrape the crossbar with a free-kick.
The goal tap was turned on full in the second half, though, with Yohaan netting first when, on the left flank, he fired the ball in at an angle across and into the corner of the net at the far side. Just four minutes later, Babysunday was on the right flank and aimed a diagonal pass at a team mate but a Sawmer defender got in the way and ended up putting the ball into his own net.
The pace of the game was unrelenting and SLFC did not look like slowing down. Another attack in the box gave them a penalty for handball and Babysunday stepped up to take this, sending Pyshangbanbha the wrong way. It was a penalty that also opened the door slightly for Sawmer, with a foul on Aibanraplang Dohling from behind seeing the referee point to the spot. Orestar Sad converted this with ease but there was to be no comeback for his team as Lajong scored the fifth and final goal of the match when Mebannangkiew’s shot took a heavy deflection and went into the net.
Later, both Laitkor and Langsning saw their game as a big opportunity for 3 points and a chance to climb up the table but the evenly-matched sides could not find a breakthrough.
Both teams created plenty of chances, though, but finishing is where they let themselves down, oftentimes being in too much of a hurry to pull the trigger.
The draw means that they both move to 7 points, tied with Nongthymmai SC, who have a game in hand. Although they possess the worst goal difference of the three, Langsning have the best head-to-head record, having beaten Nongthymmai, who in turn defeated Laitkor. Therefore, Langsning would be placed fifth, Nongthymmai sixth and Laitkor seventh.
Tomorrow, bottom side Ryntih FC will take on Nangkiew Irat SC at 2:30pm.
