Superb Dempo ground Churchill 2-0

Superb Dempo ground Churchill 2-0
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Margao, Feb 12: Defending champions Dempo produced champagne performance to  down Churchill Brothers 2-0 in a 14th round match of I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here on Saturday. Dempo led 1-0 at the breather.
Paying in front of good crowd, promising striker Joaquim Abranches and captain Ranty Martins scored.
Dempo took off on an attacking mode and maintained the momentum right through. Ranty Martins and Joaquim Abranches worked in tandem  with the half lime to take the fight to the rival camp. International Climax Lawrence, Ogba Kalu, Clifford Miranda and Peter Carvalho did not permit the Churchill strikers the space and the opportunity to manoeuvre inside their territory.
The Dempo defence marshaled by defender Mahesh Gawli and Domnick Noronha with the support from Samir Naik who came off after a long lay-off due to injury and  Debabrata Roy showed fine anticipation and alertness as they came up with some timely tackles to frustrate Churchill Brothers  strikers Vincent  Kayne and Boima Karpeh. Man- of-the match international Mahesh Gawli showed he was a towering strength in the Dempo rearguard.
Dempo had to wait till the 14th minute to surge ahead. Joaquim stamped his class after a brilliant effort. He received a through pass from Nigerian playmaker Ogba and the former unleashed a right footer to the roof of the net keeping Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Arindam Bhattcharya dazed.
 Dempo doubled the lead in the 80th following a swift cross-counter. Gawli sent a fine pass to striker Ranty who beat his marker and unleashed a snap shot which beat Churchill goalkeeper Arindam.
Stung by the double blows, Churchill tried their best to force their way back but all their efforts  were futile.  First Gourmangi’s smart header was blocked by the Dempo goalkeeper and later Brazilian midfielder Amaury Nunes Neto’s stiff shot was well taken care by Subhasish.