Rupia's single bullet sends Police to safety from sticky duel with Bidco

Kenya Police FC have Elvis Rupia to thank as his sole goal against Bidco United at Ruaraka grounds on Saturday catapulted the law enforcers to a safer rank and back to winning ways after seven rounds of dropping points.

Prior to the game, Police were flirting with relegation but Rupia's first half strike was enough to give his side the seventh win of the season that took them to two slots outside the top half.

Police head coach Sammy Omollo hailed his charges for the fighting spirit depicted especially when they were under pressure from Bidco.

"It was important for us to win the game as pressure was slowly mounting on our side.We had kept cleansheets in our last three matches and winning today shows that there is something positive we are doing. I am happy with the contribution of each and every player even those who have not been training with us due to some other engagements. We can only get better going forward, " said the former Gor Mahia assistant coach.

His opposite number Anthony Akhulia rued a mistake in the defence that cost them three points. Bidco have now lost four matches on the trot.

"We were punished as a result of a mistake in the defence. The season has been relatively tough for us due to some reasons but we will try our best and finish strongly," he said.

Edwin Mukolwe made a double save in the fifth minute to deny Clifton Miheso and Lesley Otieno who tried to break the deadlock following Bidco's slow start. 

Miheso made his trademark run on the right wing before turning to his favorite left leg but his curled effort was palmed away by Mukolwe who had read the move well. 

Seconds later the former national U20 goalkeeper came to the rescue of Bidco after collecting a low shot from Otieno who rifled a second ball few yards from the box. 

Peter Nzuki made the first attempt on target for Bidco in the ninth minute, bending a freekick past the wall after Harun Shakava fouled Lambert Oyuga from the edge of the box but Job Ochieng was equal to the task. Shakava's challenge on Oyuga saw him go into Moses Simiyu's book. 

Bidco made a swift recovery from the slow start but struggled to penetrate the Police wall that had mastered the art of limiting the spaces and cutting the supply to David Orem and Brian Nyakan.

David Gateri who had difficulties in finding space to either dribble or whip in crosses tried to beat Ochieng from long range in the 32nd minute but the custodian comfortably gathered the shot. 

Police who were good on the ball grabbed the lead in the 36th minute, tapping in the ball from close range after Duke Abuya who had evaded his marker squared the ball on his path. 

Police would have doubled their advantage from the chances created in the final minutes of the opening half but the Bidco defense stood tall and denied the visitors. 

Both teams made changes before restart where Police brought in Clinton Kinanga, David Simiyu, John Ndirangu and Soita Silicho for Rupia, Kahata, Lesley Otieno and Abuya respectively. 

Bidco introduced Emmanuel Mogaka and Alex Juma for Nyakan and Nelson Chieta who was lucky not be cautioned in the first half a series of fouls. 

Police made good use of the presence of the man mountainous forwards to whip long balls to the Bidco box in a bid to bag the second one but their attempts were met with equal force. 

The changes made by Police were exposed within a short time as Bidco who didn't see much of the ball in the first half began to execute the short passes comfortably and would go on to test Ochieng on a number of occasions. 

Police held on the slim advantage up to the final whistle to bag maximum points.

Kenya Police XI

Job Ochieng, Cornelius Lusaka, Musa Mohamed, David Owino, Harun Shakava,Duncan Otieno, Duke Abuya, Lesley Otieno, Francis Kahata, Clifton Miheso, Elvis Rupia 

Substitutes 

Reuben Juma, Soita Silicho, Erick Kipkirui, Arvine Mang'eni, John Ndirangu, David Simiyu, Clinton Kinanga

Bidco United XI 

Edwin Mukolwe, David Kalama, Francis Oduor, Lambert Otieno, Kassim Mwinyi, Peter Nzuki, David Gateri, Jacob Onyango, David Orem, Nelson Chieta, Brian Nyakan

Substitutes

Ezekiel Owade, Lameck Oloo, Anthony Simasi, Emmanuel Mogaka, Zachariah Gathu, Stephen Waruru, Alex Juma, Stephen Okiro, Derrick Onyango,

Centre Referee: Moses Simiyu