After a barren first half, during which they were lucky to end on level terms, Mahindras opened the floodgates in the second half as the heavens opened.

Shamsi Raza scored from a free-kick four minutes into the second-half after midfield schemer Santosh Kasphyap once again initiated spurt in fortunes after coming on as substitute.

Manjeet Singh made it 2-0 with a fine finish to Satish Minz's square pass in the 63rd minute.

Still, it could be a slightly different story had Rajesh Pendurkar found the net on the dot of half-time. The Income-Tax striker, chasing a long ball, beat defender Ramesh Razak and goalkeeper Mark Mascarenhas but struck a post.

Income-Tax may also claim officiating aberrations as first, an appeal for penalty and followed by another for handball did not impress referee Ravishankar.

Mahindras threatenedin the first minute itself but goalkeeper Pramod Shridharan slid well to deny Manjit Singh, lurking menacingly at the top of the box.

Mahindras threatened twice more but Kabui twice failed with good opportunities with the Income-Tax defence all at sea.

Mahindras who collected their 18th point from their ninth game, raised their game a notch or two after the change of ends.

Kashyap made his advent at half-time and had an early opportunity to display his touch at set-pieces. His free-kick found Manjit Singh who headed to Shamsi Raza who slotted home.

There was a hint of hesitancy on the part of the Income-Tax defenders who appeared to sight handball by Manjit.

Manjit rubbed it in with Mahindras' second goal a quarter of an hour later -- a fine square by Minz and the young Sikh used the outstep to dispatch to shoulder high into the net.

Minz, who did enough to merit an entry on the scoresheet, hit the bar with a fine attempt from 25 yards out in the 71st minute and relentless pressure from Mahindrasfetched two more chances.

Manjeet failed to add to the tally after Bosco Fernandes and Udhay Jadhav faltered in defence and as the minutes ticked by Kashyap rose Shridharan to a save.