Mathare United came into this derby in high flying form while the sharks were going through a rough patch. Many expected a tight game; a cracker that makes this game one of the most talked about in the league and they got one.

Coach Kanu made changes to his side bringing in Brian Bwire in goal, Bonface Onyango and Captain Eric Juma in defence while youngster KevinTom Machika was handed his first start for the club.

Well, it did live up to its billing as the fans were treated to end to end action with beautiful possession play from both sides. After sizing each other for some time, it was the sharks who opened the scoring after Eric Juma pushed forward and sent in a wonderful low crossed that was poked in by the ever reliable Erick Kapaito. That goal opened up the game as both teams now started seeing more of each other’s goalkeepers.

Sharks then extended the lead with a text book set piece combination. Onyango started it short to Wasambo who rolled the boll for Juma as if to set up a shot for him only for the skipper to pick out Duke Abuya who showed great composure to beat the goalkeeper with pressure from two defenders to give sharks a two goal cushion at the break.

Two minutes after resumption, a moment of huffing and puffing in the sharks’ danger area gifted the hosts a lifeline with Clifford Alwanga rising the highest to beat a hapless Bwire. The goal spark some energy in the hosts as they started knocking on the door with attack after attack and it seemed like an equalizer was on the cards.

In the 74^th minute the coach made two quick substitutions bringing in Julius Masaba and Harrison Mwendwa who took only two minutes for the two to combine and provide an all important third goal for the sharks. Mwendwa won the ball in the middle of the park, shook off two defenders before slotting a perfectly weighted through ball that slit through the high line of defence to pick out Masaba’s run and the new singing made no mistake as he went round the keeper and scored into an empty net.

However, before the celebrations to that goal could sink in, the hosts got themselves back in the game two minutes later after they were handed a penalty which was successfully converted by Cliff Nyakeya. Masaba almost made it four but his shot at the near post hit the bar after beating the keeper.

The sharks then held on deep in their half for a very precious win that ended their worst run of form which had seen them go eleven games without a win. This victory couldn’t come at a better time as the boy’s next game is a cup semi final against KCB on Sunday afternoon.

Startign XI:Brian  Bwire,Eric Juma©,Nixon Omondi, Bonface Onyango, Geoffrey Shiveka, Sven Yidah,Duke  Abuya, Vincent Wasambo,James Mazembe,Eric Kapaito, KevinTom Machika

SUBS: Gad Mathews  George Abege, Fidel  Origa, Harrison Mwendwa, Julius Masaba, John Kuol, Ian Taifa.