Stubborn Talanta frustrate Kenya Police at Nyayo

Ken Kenyatta's FC Talanta picked what could prove to be an important point in their bid to remain in the top tier Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) as they held Kenya Police to a barren draw in the Saturday clash staged at Nyayo National Stadium.

Having lost their last two consecutive matches, the team ended Police's two match winning streak as they grabbed the point that moved them to six points above the safety places in a result that left their coach delighted.

"Police is a tea team that has top players and I respect them. Also, we had not not trained because my players were very fatigued following our away match in Bungoma. Bearing those circumstances, I am very grateful for the draw they managed," he said.

Police's Francis Baraza on the other hand was let down by his team's lack of clinicality in front of goal.

"We had chances especially in the first half but we did not use them as we should have. This is the same squad that scored in the last game but you find that today we did not score the goals. That is an area we still need to address going foward," he noted.

The cagey first half had nothing to write home about as both teams failed to create any clear goal scoring opportunities to affect the scoreline going into the half time break.

While Police dominated the first half in terms of possession, it was Talanta who almost grabbed the lead very much against the run of play in the 41st minute when central defender Ian Omondi, while taking an innocuous free kick from the half way line, almost caught out Job Ochieng' in the Police goal as the short custodian had moved slightly off his line in anticipation of something completely different.

His outstretched arm however bailed him out as he managed to just tip the ball out for a corner which did not lead to anything costly.

In a match that had already proven its course with Talanta soaking all the pressure and trying to hit on a counter attack while Police were left to come up with the answers, clear scoring chances remained to be a problem as Kenyatta's side emerged supreme in the battle of execution.

The law enforces only came close to troubling the Talanta keeper in the 62nd minute but a promising keeper just outside the box ended up being comfortable for Kevin Otieno who smothered Duke Abuya's tame effort comfortably.

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Armed with a deadly bench, Baraza attempted to turn to his substitutes to effect the game as he brought on the attacking David Okoth, Alvin Mang'eni, Clinton Kinanga and Derrick Otanga all at different times but a stubborn Talanta held their own impressively to grab an important point in the bid to avoid relegation as they now sit six points clear of the danger zone with five matches left.

Line ups

Talanta Starting XI: Kevin Otieno(GK), Alvin Ochieng', Peter Njammah, Ian Omondi, Luis Masika, Castro Ogendo, Brian Yakhama, Samuel Olwande, Herman Ngala (December Kisaka 71'), Lucas Waitere, Michael Jairo

Kenya Police Starting XI: Job Ochieng' (GK), Baraka Badi, Abud Omar, Musa Mohammed, David Ochieng', Charles Ouma, Lesley Otieno (Derrick Otanga 62'), Francis Kahata (David Okoth 73'), Elvis Rupia (Clinton Kinanga 85'), Duke Abuya, Clifton Miheso (Alvin Mang'eni 62')