Boys Union Club. (BUC) saw off Shree Kumari Club 1-0 in the Martyrs Memorial ‘B’ Division League football tournament at the ANFA complex in Satdobato on Sunday.

The triumph lifted BUC one position up to fifth from the bottom of the Group ‘A’ standings with five points from five matches. Shree Kumari are still placed fourth in the six-team pool with six points from five games.

BUC drew the first blood in the 17th minute as Pradip Bogati netted from eight yards out courtesy of some poor defending near the area by Shree Kumari followed by a well-placed through ball from Susan Lama. Shree Kumari failed to capitalise on a handful of goal scoring opportunities. They could have equalised in the 25th minute had Bibash Limbu Lawati done better than just shooting over an unguarded BUC custodian Amanat Sheikh from 10 yards.

Seven minutes later, Lawati appeared to be in right place to head home a Bibek Chaudhary’s lobbed cross from the right wing but the forward failed to connect the ball from just a few yards from goal. In the 37th minute, Chaudhary’s attempt on goal sailed high over the crossbar. BUC survived a big scare in the 41st minute as Ejark Budathoki’s effort to clear a Bishal Tamang cross instead crashed at the upright.

Shree Kumari consistently piled on the pressure but BUC somehow kept finding their way out of trouble. Nine minutes after the break BUC goalkeeper Sheikh pulled off a solid dive to his right to deny Bibek Rai’s shot on goal from the edge of the area. In the 62nd minute, Ganesh Baduwal’s close range header rattled the crossbar. Shree Kumari’s Yaman Magar took a shot at goal only to find a defender’s feet.

BUC came close to doubling their lead as Susan Lama’s shot from eight yards flew whiskers away from the crossbar in the 72nd minute. Shree Kumari were then denied the equaliser in the 76th minute when custodian Sheikh blocked a Bibek Chaudhary strike from inside the area with his outstretched legs.

Shree Bhagawati Club beat Madhyapur Youth Association (MYA) 3-1 in another match of the day. Darshan Gurung struck twice and Anil Rana scored the another for Shree Bhagawati. Subarna Bikram Karki pulled one back for Madhyapur.

Gurung provided the seventh minute lead for Shree Bhagawati and Rana doubled their lead scoring in the 62 minute. Karki made it 2-1 three minutes later giving hope of earning at least a point. But Gurung added the third deep into the stoppage time to seal the Shree Bhagawati win.

Shree Bhagawati remain in second place with 10 points from five matches, one behind Group ‘B’ leaders Tushal Youth Club. Madhyapur are in fourth place with six points from five games.