MAPUSA: Gopal Shirodkar’s goal enabled St. Anthony's SC, Marna to get the better of Bidesh SC Assonora 1-0 in the GFA's 2nd Division league, at Duler stadium, here, on Wednesday.
In a closely fought encounter, the all-important goal for St. Anthony’s Marna was scored in the 22nd minute of the first half through Gopal Shirodkar who finished clinically from a cross delivered by Pushparaj Mandrekar.
Bidesh had two decent chances of getting back on terms but were denied by the brilliance of Marna keeper Vinet Agarwadekar who first stopped Vinayak’s firm shot from entering the net and then ten minutes later foiling Faheez Mohammad in a one-to-one situation.
Gopal Shirodkar after getting hold of a pass from Pushparaj nearly doubled Marna’s lead five minutes before half time but this time his low grounder was well kept out for a corner by Bidesh keeper Rikesh Narvekar
Changing ends, in the 52nd minute a dangerous cross delivered into the box by Marna's Pushparaj found Mayuresh who could not get in time to connect the ball and direct it into the open goal.
Marna defended resolutely for the remainder of the match while Bidesh who kept trying to get back on terms had one golden chance of levelling the score in the added time but substitute Saahil Kavlekar could not get to the end of a cross fired into the box by Vijet.