Ratnam stays on top, beat Saunders 4-0

Bernard PERERA

SOCCER: Ratnam Sports Club the leaders of the Kit Premier League went further ahead by three points when they trounced fourth placed Saunders Sports Club from Pettah four goals to nil at CR & FC grounds yesterday.

The club from Kotahena which had a lead of six points from the followers Blue Star SC, Negombo Youth SC and Saunders SC last week took a great stride forward towards the championship this season.

Meanwhile, Saunders SC who came back into reckoning from the beginning of the second stage got their first set back yesterday.

Before meeting Ratnam SC in round two Saunders registered their good wins to be on par with Negombo Youth SC to occupy the third slot behind Ratnam SC and Blue Star SC. But now they will be right behind the top three teams.

Ratnam SC got ahead in the early stage of the game through the boot of striker Kasun Jayasuriya. This lead was extended by Mohamed Raumy when he booted the second for Ratnam. The teams returned to the pavilion for lemons with the Kotahena team in front 2-0.

After the turn around it was Kasun Jayasuriya once again who became the play maker scoring twice to put his side in full control of the game Saunders strikers never was able to penetrate the defence of the Ratnam's.

Even when the opportunity was available their strikers failed to capitalise from those and the side had to end the day's play with a blank score against Ratnam four goals.

Negombo Youth SC win

On Saturday Negombo Youth Sports Club came up with another good performance to beat Police Sports Club three goals to one at Police Park.

National player E. B. Channa opened scoring for Negombo team in the first session of play and lemons were taken with Negombo in the lead 1-0.

After lemons once again Channa got the second goal to extend the lead for Negombo 2-0. Police playing in their own den managed to reduce the lead, but C. Guneratne's goal in this session, the third for Negombo which also sealed victory for them. With this victory Negombo Youth with 20 points close the gap with leaders, Ratnam SC (31 points).