By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Jan 14: The 10-man Tribhuvan Army Club failed to secure two points lead to gain the top spot of the on-going Martyr’s Memorial A Division league after they were forced to play 1-1 draw against Sankata Club at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

After the 1-1 draw, departmental side Army men slid back from the top spot for second time after sharing the point against Sankata, Army men is at second spot of the league standing with 13 points from 6 matches and Sankata is at the eight spot with 8 points from 6 matches they played.

After the end of the 6^th round, Machhindra Football Club is leading the point table with 13 points while with equal 13 points Tribhuvan Army Club is at second spot in the goal difference and Saraswoti Youth Club is at bottom of the league table with one point.

Striker Nawayug Shrestha scored one goal for Army men and defender Amit Tamang rescued Sankata from defeat as scoring match equaliser.

Shrestha close-range acute header put Army men ahead in the match in the 28^th minute to connect the cross off his team mate Dinesh Henjan.

Army men dominated the match against Sankata in the first half and after they down to 10-man, Sankata back to the match with point sharing goal after Sankata defender Tamang scored an equaliser for Sankata in the 55^th minute. Sankata was honoured penalty after Army defender Amit Tamang handled the ball inside their own box.

Sankata could not take an advantage of 10-man Army in the remaining 27^th and 8 minutes extra time as match ended 1-1 draw.

 Army men were 10-man down in the 53^rd minute after their defender Youddha Shahi faced double yellow card for his fouled against Sankata. Shahi faced first yellow card in the 10^th minute of the match.

After the 10-man Army men had controlled the match and created a couple of chances against Sankata but their effort went in the vain as they were forced to share the point.

Army Coach Nabin Neupane expressed that the decision of referee Prajjwol Chhetri is a one side during the match despite of 1-1 draw. Army man George Prince Karki was declared the Man of the Match for his performance against Sankata.

“All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) have to field the match experience referee in the tough matches of the league, ANFA should field much experience referee in big matches of the league,” Coach Neupane said.

“ANFA sent top level FIFA referee Sudish Pandey and FIFA assistant referee Rojen Shrestha to Dhaka, Bangladesh to conduct the Bangabandhu Gold and they sent lack of match experience referee to conduct the league so they could not control the match and run properly,” Coach Neupane added.

Neupane said that “I am satisfied the with result, performance of my players and we played modern football against Sankata with pressing and attacking performance and we are still on the race of title,”

After sharing the point from one of the best teams Army, Sankata Coach Bijay Maharjan was delighted to share a point from hands of good and set team Army.

“it was pressure match and finally we made a comeback from 1-0 down and I happy with the result but my players failed to face the pressure put from Army men in the match and we will improve our match in the upcoming matches,” Coach Maharjan said.

The league leader Machhindra will take on Himalayan Sherpa Club on Friday.