SHILLONG: The future looks bright for Meghalaya football given the way Royal Wahingdoh and Mawkhar SC competed in the final of the U-14 Football Tournament, organised by the Shillong Sports Association, at Third Ground, Polo, on Saturday.
Wahingdoh lifted the trophy by scoring two goals in the first half and then holding out as Mawkhar battled hard in the second.
The runners-up, however, could only score one goal and the final ended 2-1 in the junior Royals’ favour.
On a sunny but very windy day, Bankitboklang Nongrum opened the scoring with a seventh minute strike.
Taking a free kick from just inside the Mawkhar half, Bankitboklang gained some advantage from the wind as his shot sailed up and over the Mawkhar goalkeeper, Macduff Nongrum.
RWFC were the more dominant team in the first session, but Mawkhar also had a look-in on a few occasions but could not convert any of their balls forward.
Onyxson Buhroy then headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to make it 2-0 to Wahingdoh.
Mawkhar, however, came out fighting in the second half.
First, Macduff pulled off a brilliant save in the 32nd minute and his team’s goal was scored five minutes later.
A long-range strike from Simeon Mylliemngap was on target, hitting the upright and going in, despite the full stretched dive of RWFC goalie Kevin Bareh.
The only sore point in the match came when Rheadolf Nongneng was red-carded for a second offence.
While walking off, the Royals’ captain flung his armband at the referee, but the talented forward appeared genuinely contrite after reflecting on his behaviour later on.
Although Mawkhar then had a one-man advantage, they could not pierce their opponents’ defence for a second time and Wahingdoh were able to celebrate a deserved victory.
At the prize distribution ceremony, Kevin Bareh was named Best Goalkeeper, while team mate Onyxson Buhroy was named Best Striker.
Mylliem SC’s Tenstarson Kharbangar took home the Best Midfielder award, while Mawkhar’s Batkupar Lyngdoh Nongbri was named Best Defender.
The prizes were distributed by H Syngkon, Mawkhar Rangbah Shnong; FM Dopth, Sports and Youth Affairs Director; T Shanpru, SSA Vice-President; and George Lyngdoh, East Khasi Hills District Sports Officer.
