Forest Rangers edge Power

GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA writes @SunZambian IT was a sad ending at Arthur Davies Stadium as Power Dynamos failed to deliver a Christmas gift to their fans but instead suffered a 0-1 loss to Forest Rangers on Christmas Eve. Fole Malembe came into the match looking to maintain their unbeaten run while Power Dynamos were looking to return to winning ways following a 1-1 draw with Kabwe Warriors over the weekend. It was an evenly contested affair from the word go, Power Dynamos had the first real chance in the 15th following some good work by Kennedy Musonda but there was no one to make a meaningful connection and they could only get a corner. Four minutes later, Spencer Sautu was gifted a glorious chance as Alex ‘Bazo’ Ng’onga brought in a good ball which was headed back across the goal by Godfrey Ngwenya to find Sautu only for him to head it directly at Mathias Kigonya. Forest Rangers took the lead in the dying minutes of the first stanza against the run of play, Quadri Kola slotting home from inside the area after a good cross from the right-wing found him unmarked inside the box. A lone goal by Nigerian Quadri Kola in the 45th minute was all that Rangers needed to pick maximum points at the once upon feared stadium in Kitwe in a week seven rescheduled fixture.  Davy Daka wasted a beautiful sitter in the 77th minute denying Power an equaliser. Power came close to grabbing an equaliser in the 88th minute but Mathias Kigonya produced a brilliant save to deny Luka Chamanga the goal. The victory now puts Ndola-based Forest Rangers at 16 points on sixth position, a point ahead of seventh-placed Power.