Ranjan Bista struck twice as Three Star Club climbed provisionally to the top spot of the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League with a 2-0 victory over Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 2-0 at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Friday.

In an early match of the day, Nepal Police Club (NPC) also made progress in the points table after its 3-0 humbling of New Road Team (NRT) lifted the team to fourth with 10 points from five matches. Three Star leapfrogged Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), who have played one match less each, to second and third respectively with 12 points from five matches.

MMC, which also has 12 points, are second on goal difference, while TAC has 10 points. Sankata (nine), Himalayan Sherpa Club (seven), Saraswati Youth Club (six), Chyasal Youth Club (four) and APF (four) round up inside the top 10.

On Friday, it was APF which created the first notable chance of the match when Yubaraj Khadka launched a powerful shot from the area but was denied by a diving Three Star goalie Alan Neupane in the 23rd. Three Star repeatedly pierced through the APF defence but needed a perfect finish which Bista provided in the 25th.

Sunil Bal exhibited a decent dribbling skills from the left to get inside APF danger zone and the midfielder dipped the ball right in front of the goalline before Bista struck with a simple tap in. APF had a chance to equalise before half time when in the 41st minute Santosh Shrestha had ample time and space to convert from the zone. But to his dismay, the forward ended up with a sky-high shot.

Three Star started slowly after resumption but began to gain upper hand soon. Nirajan Khadka thought his header on a corner from Bal had entered the nets in the 61st after he had cut past APF goalie Chaudhary but had to curse his luck after Biswash Udas made a goalline clearance.

Five minutes later Bista doubled the tally after Anil Gurung set him up for a one-on-one with an advancing Chaudhary and the striker made no mistake placing the ball to the left. APF missed another chance to equalise in the 73rd minute when Rajendra Rawal’s powerful shot flew inches above the bar. In the 88th minute, Chaudhary denied Three Star a third goal diving to get rid of a goal-bound overhead kick from Nirajan.

Three Star assistant coach Ashok Rai said the plan worked for his team. “We noticed that they were playing with three midfielders and our plan was to get the possession of the ball and attack. The strategy worked for us. The opponent was not easy to score but we are happy that the boys implemented the plans perfectly,” said Rai.

In the first match of the day, Nir Kumar Rai put NPC ahead in the 40th minute before Abhishek Rijal doubled the tally in the 66th. NRT looked desperate to get back into the game but Rai put the issue beyond doubt scoring in the 82nd minute.