Soldiers and Airmen take top spots

Sri Lanka Army took a step forward to occupy the top spot in the Dialog Premier Soccer Championship for the first time this season. It all happened at the table leaders Negombo youth tasted their first defeat playing against Renown SC SL Army and Negombo Youth were on equal terms with 12 points each after the conclusion of stage 6.

In Segment A II also the top slot changed hands with Sri Lanka Air Force going ahead of the table leaders in this group Ratnam SC by one point.

Both teams were on equal terms having collected 12 points each from six games. Ratnams game against Saunders SC ended abruptly did not add any points to Ratnams tally and they had to wait for the final decision of the Tournament Committee.

Renown SC who stunned the Blue Star SC in an earlier game came up with a another sterling performance to beat Negombo Youth SC three goals to one at CR & FC ground.

Both teams could not find the net during the first session and took Lemons with a blank score sheet. Young Renown team took the lead in the 52nd minute through the goal scored by Nishantha Abeysekera and D.P. Perera and H. Zain scoring the other two goals for winners in the 56th and 63rd minutes. The solitary goal for losers came through the boot of experienced G.P.C. Karunaratne in the dying stages of the game.

In segment A-II Air Force outplayed Jupiters SC From Negombo 3 goals to 1 at Kelaniya FFSL ground. Airmen too were behind the defending champs in this group over took Ratnam SC.

New Youngs Sports Club defeated Pelicans SC at Kurunegala 1-0. This result did not allow any team to march forward in the points table.

In a another game Sri Lanka Police had to settle for a draw playing against Java Lane Sports Club from Slave Island. This result too did not make changes to their standing in the points table.

The Ratnam-Saunders game which came to an abrupt end after only 43 minutes of play did not give any points as a decision could not be found here. Referee Dilan Perera who had to call off the game has submitted his report to the tournament committee of the Football Federation.

According to an official of FFSL the tournament committee is to meet today to scrutinize the referee’s report and other reports that the Federation has received upto date. The final decision is due to be announced today. After the committee meeting.

Results:

Renown SC beat Negombo Youth SC 3 - 1 at CR & FC Ground

Sri Lanka Army beat Blue Star SC 1 - 0 at Kelaniya

New Youngs SC beat Pelicans SC 1 - 0 at Kurunegala

Sri Lanka Air Force beat Jupiters SC 3 - 1 at Kelaniya

Sri Lanka Police drew with Java Lane 0 - 0 at Police Ground

Points table as at 18th Nov.

SEGMENT A - I
 
NAME OF CLUB		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS

01 SL Army SC		07	04	03	00	07	02	15
02 Negombo Youth SC	07	03	03	01	09	05	12
03 Renown SC		07	03	01	03	10	13	10
04 Blue Star SC		07	02	02	03      12      13 	08
05 New Youngs SC 	07	02	02	03	09	09	08
06 Pelicans SC 		07	01	01	05	06	11	04

SEGMENT A - II

01 SL Air Force SC   	07	05	01	01	13	05	16
02 Ratnam SC		06	05	00	01	14	08	15
03 Jupiters SC 		07	02	02	03	09	13	08
04 Saunders SC    	06	02	01	03	06	07	07
05 SL Police SC 	07	01	03	03	06	11	06
06 Java Lane SC  	07	00	03	04	04	08	03