Vipers Defeat Resilient Arua Hill To Stretch Summit Lead.

Vipers Sports Club needed extra mental toughness to defeat a very resilient Charles Livingston Mbabazi side in a very exciting StarTimes Uganda Premier league clash at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.

Ceasor Manzoki, Milton Karisa and Yunusu Sentamu scored the all important goals for the Venoms to defeat a very physical Arua Hill side.

Manzoki put the hosts in the lead in the 39th minute and Karisa extended the lead in the 72nd minute.

Midfielder Wahab pulled one back for the Kangaloos in the 77nd minute with a half volley on Atendele well crafted cross.

Sentamu sealed the scoring on the day with a beauty leaving center backs Toha and Vuni on ground.

The hosts got the first attempt as early as the 4th minute but Karisa effort was pushed away by goal keeper Richard Anyama.

Watambala came on for injured Bright Anukani in the 9th minute and was also later in the game substituted to bring on Frank Zaga Tumwesigye.

Young star Eseru tried from a long range for the visitors on his first attempt, but his effort went wide over the bar in the 16th minute.

Substitute Watambala wasted Vipers’ freekick opportunity when he hit the wall after Karisa was brought down on the 18 yard box.

Ndihabwe missed the best chance of the first half when his close range effort hit the cross when he was well set up by Leku in the 24th minute.

The was a penalty claim for the visitors Midway the first stanza when Left back Galiwango looked to have handled the ball in the area.

Winger Karisa failed to utilise Galiwango well laid up ball missing an empty net close to the end of the first half hitting the goal frame.

The visitors got an early second half chance to level matters but Leku effort went inches off the mark.

Danger man Yunus Ssentamu was also shortly denied by goal keeper Anyama on his well curved attempt on the far post.

Mbabazi introduced Rashid Kawawa and Kabuye for Ndihabwe and Eseru respectively and they had some positive impact.

The venoms at (39) points extended the lead on top to four points between them and second placed KCCA FC at 35 with a game in hand against Mbarara on Sunday.

The Uganda Premier debutants, the Leopards enjoying a good start of their top tier life, are sixth placed with 28 points.

Vipers XI

Fabien Mutombora (G.K), Paul Willa, Dissan Galiwango, Livingstone Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa (Captain), Siraje Ssentamu, Milton Karisa, Najib Yiga, Bright Anukani, Yunus Junior Sentamu, Cesar Lobi Manzoki

Subs: Jack Komakech (G.K), Hilary Mukundane, Musa Ssali, Dan Sserunkuma, Denis Mwemezi, Frank Zagga Tumwesigye, Abdul Karim Watambala.

Head coach: Robert Oliviera

Arua Hill XI

Richard Anyama (G.K), Geriga Atendele, Richard Matovu, Rashid Muhamad, Rashid Toha (G.K), Joseph Bright Vuni, Ibrahim Faizul, David Ndihabwe, Wahab Gadafi, Robert Eseru, Alfred Leku

Subs: Erick Kibowa (G.K), Ibrahim Magandaazi, Ibrahim Tembo, Stephen Kabuye, Jacob Kamwesiga, Samuel Ssekamatte Kayongo, Rashid Kawawa.

Head coach: Charles Livingstone Mbabazi

Match officials

Center Referee: Ali Sabila
Assistant Referee 1: Isa Masembe
Assistant Referee 2: Samuel Mbabaali
Fourth official: Mashod Ssali
Assessor: Denis Batte
Media officer: Kenneth Kelvin Muwanga
Safety & Security: Joseph Owundo