Victors by a solitary goal in the first leg, the railwaymen striker Asif Jamal in particular will look back ruefully on a solitary point gained when a clear three was theirs for the taking.

The result after today's goalless encounter helps BMFC retain top position with 20 points from nine matches while Central are on third spot with 18 from 10.

Both coaches came down heavily on ground conditions. Central's Irenio Vaz, severely critical on the WIFA's inaction of not using a heavy roller, blamed the pitch for his side's non-performance when it came to scoring.

Iranian Jamshed Nassiri guiding BMFC, felt likewise, pouring further criticism on the length of the grass that according to him made movement difficult and risked injury. Nassiri, handing it to Central for a far superior display on the day, saidhe missed many of his top players -- Nigerians Seriki (down with malaria), Moosa Aliu (chicken pox) and Manjinder and Harsharanjit (domestic commitments).

Surely enough, striker Tausif Jamal was carried off the pitch with a knee jerk and it appeared players lumbered in their efforts.

But Central could well have found the net with the spate of chances that came their way.

Masood Ansari booted over with Gumpe Rime helpless in the 11th minute and while BMFC went close through Abdul Khalique and substitute Adel Ansari, the second half belonged clearly and completely to Central Railway.

Asif Jamal Central's severest defaulter headed waywardly on two occasions when the opportunities had goal written all over. Further misses by substitute Lanuchuba kept BMFC's goal intact.

Asif Jamal missed again in the dying minutes with BMFC's lone chance in the half coming in the dying moments from Gurinderpal Singh's long range attempt. Raghuveer Khanolkar, however, blocked confidently.