Wangi inspires SC Villa, Kiiza rescues Vipers SC

Kampala. SC Villa won two successive matches for the first time this season, doing just enough to beat a resilient Paidha at Namboole last evening for a slight shift from relegation boundaries.
The record 16-time champions needed to show the 3-1 dismissal of Vipers last week was not a good accident, while the Venoms themselves had to show bounce-back-ability on a rather tricky Tooro trip.
It is Villa who again came top, their 2-1 victory over bottom side Paidha - thanks to a Pius Wangi brace - giving them a semblance of continuity from last week.

The victory moved Villa one place up to 11th on 21 points, while Paidha remained bottom with nine.
The match at Namboole was close, but it is Villa who threatened to run away with it in the opening 17 minutes. Wangi, tormentor in chief of Vipers last week, put Villa ahead in the third minute, thumping into the roof after Paidha defence failed to clear their lines.

Home stadium plea
Paidha, whose fans called out Fufa throughout the match to approve their home stadium, could have levelled matters but James Wambede’s header crashed off the crossbar.
Villa were to later punish the visitors miss, Wangi connecting home a 17th minute Charles Lwanga cross from the right after Emmanuel Kalyowa threaded him delicious grass-kissing through ball from the middle for a 2-0 half time lead.

Paidha, who also had their captain Jerry Adebu waste a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half time when he over-elaborated with Villa goalkeeper Saidi Keni at his mercy, returned from break rejuvenated.
They dictated proceedings throughout the half, only let down by poor decision making in front of goal. But they did enough to worry Villa, Okwir Dickens’ 53rd minute goal from inside the area ensuring a nervy finish.

“We had lapses in concentration especially in second half,” admitted Villa coach Douglas Bamweyana, “We allowed our opponents to dominate the game but am happy that we got the result.”
Bamweyana’s counterpart Charles Ssenyange was inconsolable. “There’s no good performance if you’re losing,” he said, “Had it not been the early goal it would’ve been another result.”
On their part, Vipers failed their test of returning to winning ways in Fort Portal, their come-from-behind 1-1 draw at an in-form Tooro handing table leaders KCCA more initiative.

Vipers saviour
Godfrey Lwesibawa’s 16th minute goal had looked to land Tooro their eighth home win but Vipers new signing Hamis Kiiza levelled for Vipers eight minutes from half time.
Vipers remain second on 38 points, three behind KCCA - who have played a match fewer. Tooro stayed sixth on 29 points.

In Mwererwe, Nelson Ssenkatuka and Alfred Onek missed two chances to punish Mbarara City but the Ankole Lions held on for yet another point to remain third with 36 points.
“We had come for a win but a draw is better than a loss. So we shall take it,” said Mbarara star Paul Mizureezi.
Bright Stars assistant coach Paul Kiwanuka was frustrated by the missed chances. “We have to work on scoring the chances we create.”

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