I-League leaders Dempo SC scored an emphatic win over JCT Mills at Magao today, and Churchill, with today’s defeat, slipped to three points behind the defending champions — with 26 points off 14 matches. If Churchill wish to win the I-League title, they have no other choice but to hope that Dempo lose their remaining matches, which is highly improbable. With the impressive win, Mohun Bagan jumped from the fifth to the fourth position in the I-League table. The Kolkata outfit are now on 24 points, and trailing them are Mahindra United with 21 points. The first blow for the Goan outfit came thanks to its custodian Vinay Singh’s inexonerable poor form. Bagan mainstay Bhaichung Bhutia struck for Bagan in the fourth minute, courtesy Vinay Singh’s failure to fist off a simple Mohan Ra long throw-in from the left. The fumble allowed Bhutia to sprint onto the six-yard box, jabbing the ball home.

Habibur Rahman doubled the scoring in the 31st minute, again thanks to Vinay Singh’s failure in positioning himself for Habibur’s grounder just outside the box. It was Bhutia again who gave the finishing touch with a perfect back-head off a Rauf Khan flag-kick from the right.

Churchill Brothers’ biggest failure was their inability to effect attacks down the flanks, particularly in the first session. Despite having watched Bagan’s two central defenders, NS Manju and Peter Odafe were excellent in foiling the opposition’s penetration down the middle. Churchill’s hard-working and swift midfield didn’t look goo enough in effecting attacking moves down the flanks, what if they boasted of the crafty Okolie Odafa. Even the goal Churchill obtained through Mbayo Iyomi in the 38th minute was also the result of midfielders’ moves through the right flank.

Vasum, moving towards the penetrative zone, unleashed a jab to Odafa inside the box. Odafa, having evaded three Bagan defenders, placed it for Iyomi with a precise back-heal to tap it in. The Goan outfit failed to get their act together in the six-yard box.