Ekhaya FC’s seven-game unbeaten resolve was tested to the limit on a difficult Saturday afternoon against Silver Strikers FC, as The Cowboys fell to a 3-0 defeat in an FDH Bank Premiership encounter that only truly came alive in the second half at the Silver Stadium.
Zebron Kalima scored a double before Emmanuel Allan wrapped up the victory for The Central Bankers with a poacher’s goal.
What happened
Balance without bite
The match began with a measured tempo, both sides showing early caution while probing for weaknesses. Inside the opening quarter an hour, it was the hosts who looked slightly more adventurous, pushing forward with intent, though Ekhaya remained organized and compact at the back.
As the game settled, possession was evenly shared. The Cowboys matched the league leaders stride for stride, but neither side managed to carve out clear-cut opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. Defensive discipline outweighed attacking creativity, keeping the scoreline goalless.
The closest moment of the half arrived around the half-hour mark when Ernest Petro came within inches of breaking the deadlock. His effort rattled the crossbar, a warning sign for Ekhaya as Silver Strikers began to increase the pressure. Still, The Cowboys held firm, ensuring the sides went into the break level at 0-0.
Kalima turns the tide
The early exchanges after the restart mirrored the first half, promising build-up play from both teams, but a lack of composure in the final third. For a little while, it seemed the deadlock would persist. Then came the decisive moment.
In the 58th minute, the former Malawi International Kalima produced a moment of quality, meeting the ball sweetly on the volley to give Silver Strikers the lead. Just a few minutes later, he struck again, this time finishing off a slick passing move inside the box to complete a quick-fire brace that stunned The Cowboys.
What had been a tightly contested affair suddenly tilted sharply in favour of the hosts. Ekhaya, who had enjoyed spells of control, now found themselves chasing shadows and searching for a response against a side brimming with confidence.
Late blow and full-time
Despite their efforts to claw their way back into the match, The Cowboys struggled to break through a disciplined Silver backline. As the game stretched into stoppage time, Emmanuel Allan added further gloss to the scoreline, making it 3-0 and sealing a comprehensive victory for the hosts.
What it means
The result sees Ekhaya FC drop to 9th place on the FDH Bank Premiership table, with 17 points from 13 matches. It also marks their heaviest defeat of the season so far, an outcome that does not fully reflect the balance of play for large spells of the contest.
Next fixture
Attention now turns to a crucial response. The Cowboys will be eager to bounce back when they travel to face Creck Sporting Club at Nankhaka Stadium next weekend, aiming to rediscover their rhythm and return to winning ways.
