Nzoia Sugar sink Bidco to boost survival hopes

Nzoia Sugar FC's Festus Okiring in 2018. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

Nzoia Sugar narrowly edged out Bidco United 1-0 on Thursday to end their eight-match winless run in a tight Football Kenya Federation Premier League match played at Nakuru Show ASK Grounds.

Hillary Simiyu scored the solitary goal in the final half of the match to hand the sugar men all maximum points.

The win, Ibrahim Shikanda’s first since their shocking 2-1 victory over defending champions Gor Mahia in February, saw them move to 14th in the standings with 20 points, four points above the drop zone.

The match started on a low momentum with both sides playing safe and careful not to concede an early goal.

However, it was Nzoia who made the first attempt on goal after Gaetan Masha sent a free kick inches wide off Edwin Mukolwe’s goal in the ninth minute.

The match went for another 20 minutes without a goal scoring opportunity before Gabriel Wander beat Bidco’s keeper with a long range shot but went narrowly wide.

The match went to the break tied at 0-0 with Peter Nzuki’s free kick from the center circle hiting the post the only chance for Bidco.

In the final half, Masha found Simiyu with a delicious through ball to beat an outstanding Mukolwe in goal for Bidco.

The loss saw remain 12th with 27 points.