Bansbari making debut in the top flight after a decade conceded all the goals in the first half. Lawati opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, added another two minutes later and completed his hattrick one minute before the break. [break]
The third goal for APF came in the 26th minute from Santosh Shrestha to make three goals in four minutes.
APF, studded with dominating number of young talented players following a narrow escape from relegation in last season´s league, came up with improved performance. There were seven new faces in their starting lists along with U-19 star Nirajan Malla.
"Our aim this time is to lift the title," said the delighted APF Manager Prem Kumar Shrestha adding that the team started preparing for the new season a week after the completion of top flight last season. Expressing satisfaction at his side´s performance Shrestha said, "The boys played better than expected but we could not score in the second-half as we focused for a set-game rather than scoring."
APF created frequent chances from the very beginning and missed more than half-a-dozen other scoring chances against Bansbari that comprised dominating number of players making their debut in top flight football.
Similarly, Bansbari second choice custodian Navraj Bohora who came off the bench in the 71st minute following the injury of goalie Min Dura made some heroic saves to resist departmental team´s attack.
Despite the humiliating defeat, Bansbari Manager Rajesh Shrestha expressed his commitment to come up with better performance in the future and stay unchanged in the top flight.
"Bansbari Club is born for football and we are making comeback in the A division for the third time," Shrestha said.
Thursday´s match
Himalayan Sherpa Club Vs NIBL Friends Club
Venue: Dasharath Stadium @ 13:30 NST
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