MATCH REPORT: BUL FC 1-1 VIPERS SC
BUL FC battled to a point at Vipers SC in our ultimate home game of the season, with goalkeeper Tom Ikara earning the man of the match accolade following his classic showings between the sticks.
After a goalless first half, BUL took the lead on sixty five minutes through Samuel Ssekamatte but Karim Watambala’s injury time penalty ensured both teams took a point from the game at FUFA technical centre.
Following a lively start, the game settled down somewhat and despite plenty of competitiveness from both sides, chances were limited at either end in the early exchanges of the first half.
The visitors had a glorious chance to open the scores with 15 minutes on the clock. Yunus Sentamu got in behind the BUL backline as a result of Douglas Muganga missing the ball, and after facing the goal, his low shot played out into the gloves of Tom Ikara.
They went close again when Ashraf Mandela whipped in a teasing cross a few moments later, but his effort too was claimed by the goalkeeper.
At the other end, BUL was in ascendancy mid way the half, as Ssekamatte’s bursting run in the middle led to Reagan Kalyowa shooting into a defender for a corner.
Our good spell continued with our second chance in two minutes, but like the first, there was no yellow shirt to connect with Ssekamatte’s ground effort across the face of the goal.
Ikara was then forced to clear his line using his feet following a goal melee from inside the box as the away side tried to re-establish the foothold on the game.
Vipers’ goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora however needed to be at full stretch to brilliantly push away Ssekamatte’s free kick that left him requiring medical attention, before Sentamu aimed his corner direct at Ikara on the stroke of halftime.
The Eastern Giants had a dream start to the second half though when, just two minutes in, Ssekamatte underused an open chance with his shot sailing over the bar.
And with five minutes after the hour, the forward made amends, gliding home the opener off a Reagan Kalyowa cross, giving Mutumbora no chance as the ball nestled into the bottom left corner.
BUL had to ride some spells of pressure from the away side onwards, but Simeon Masaba’s men produced a resolute defensive display until a goal deep into added time from the penalty spot from Abdul Karim Watambala earned the visitors a point.
It’s now 35 points for the Eastern Giants who currently sit in the eighth place on the table. Our season will end with a trip to Maroons on Saturday.
Starting XI:
Tom Ikara (GK), Douglas Muganga, Richard Ayiko, Ronald Otti, George Kasonko, Pascal Ngobi, Jerome Kirya (Richard Wandyaka 76′), Reagan Kalyowa, Emmanuel Obua, Martin Aprem
(Innocent Rwothomio 90+4′), Samuel Sekamatte (Ibrah Nsimbe 82′)
Unused substitutes:
Emmanuel Kalyowa(GK), Aggrey Madoi, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Ivan Wani.