Shillong, Sep 21: Yesterday saw five matches played in the Shillong Sports Association’s U-20 Fourth Division 2023, though one of these ended up being a walkover.
All five games were set to be held at Third Ground, Polo, here. The very first fixture, however, was a no-show for Laitlulong SC, so Diliengiem YSCWA were awarded a 3-0 win by default. Laitlulong lost their previous four games and were at the bottom of the Group A standings anyway. Diliengiem will be thankful for the 3 points but are still only sixth in the eight-team group with 7 points.
Later, in the same group, Mawlynrei SC came from two goals to one down to beat Lumpyngngad SC 3-2. Heraldo Kyrsian (4′) gave Mawlynrei the lead but the game swung in Lumpyngngad’s favour thanks to strikes by Eladmi Pastieh (8′) and Donlang Kharsyiemiong (41′). A brace by Kerry John Marboh (61′, 67′) then gave Mawlynrei the win. Mawlynrei lie third in Group A with 12 points, tied with Umrynjah SC but with a poorer goal difference (+7 to +4). Mawlynrei have also played an extra game (6 to 5). Lumpyngngad remain stuck on 7 points but are better on goal difference than Diliengiem (-1 to -2).
There were also two matches in Group B – Laitumkhrah SC registered a whopping 4-0 win against Mawphlang SC, while Nongkolew SC blanked Madanrting SC 2-0.
Laitumkhrah had previously only scored two goals in four games but found the back of the net plenty today through Hamlet Thabah (34′), Meban Lanong (35′), Ivan Garry Kharbuli (70′) and Aldhues Nongbri (70’+3). The result puts both clubs on 7 points each but Laitumkhrah are now in front in fourth place thanks to the head-to-head advantage.
The other fixture in the group saw Shain Mujai score in the 45th and 68th minutes to give Nongkolew a third win. This is also the third time in a row that Nongkolew have scored two goals in a game but the first in which they’ve kept a clean sheet. Now on 10 points, they are third in the standings, tied with Mawkasiang but behind on goal difference (+5 to +3). Madanrting, meanwhile, remain second from the bottom on 2 points.
Lastly, the only draw of the day came from Group C where Mawklot SC versus Lummawbah SC ended 1-1. Here Paila Rapsang (7′) gave Mawklot the lead before Deron Kharpuri (33′) equalised. Mawklot have yet to win a game but even this result was a positive for them as it moved them off the bottom of the points table – they now have 2 and are tied with Riatsamthiah SC but with a better goal difference (-7 to -9). Lummawbah will have been a tad disappointed not to take a victory given that they are the third-best side in the group – they now have 8 points.
