by Mayukh Goswami

Mangaldai : A fine diving save by ASEB custodian Bishal Sahu and an away target by a policeman  in the penalty shoot out has helped ASEB Sports Club, Guwahati drub Assam Police Blues by an aggregate margin of 7-5 in the title clash of the 40th Amba Medhi football tournament played for the first time under lights at Mangaldai Vidyapith playground on Thursday night. Former champion ASEB  boys in blue jerseys playing from right to left dominated the policemen in yellow jerseys with three first half goals. Akrang Narzary took his team into the lead in the 26th minute and seven minutes later with his skillful play he earned his second goal. In the 38th minute Sujulal Brahma’s salvo increased ASEB’s lead upto 3-0 till half time. In the second half the policemen were completely in different touch. However they had to wait till the 29th minute of the half when Boloram Basumatary struck his first goal. Just after six minutes Boloram netted his second and reduced the margin to 3-2. In the dying minute of the match the powerful volley from Mofidul Islam saw policemen drawing the match 3-3 in the regulation time. In the penalty shoot out all the first four shots of ASEB boys were well in targets while ASEB custodian Bishal Sahu smartly deflected a shot of the policemen while another went flying over the goal bar. Akrang Narzary was adjudged for the Bidyaram Medhi memorial best player trophy where as the best goalkeeper trophy was won by Bishal Sahu. The winners ASEB lifted the Amba Medhi memorial trophy while the runners up Assam Police Blues got the Ratneswar Kataki memorial trophy. In the prize distribution ceremony Mangaldai Legislator Gurujyoti Das, Secretary Mangaldai Sports Association Anupam Deka, trophy donor Biren Medhi, MSA office bearers Pratap Bordoloi and Bipul Kr Sharma handed over the trophies. Earlier in the evening Mangaldai Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia in presence of Sipajhar MLA Binanda Kr Saikia, SP Darrang Amrit Kr Bhuyan and other invited guests and several thousands of football lovers inaugurated the match.