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The law enforcers added onto the Slum Boys’ trouble following the low-scoring match at Police Pavilion
Kenya Police extended their unbeaten run in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League to five games following their 1-0 victory over Mathare United on Sunday.
Elvis Rupia scored the lone goal for the law enforcers, taking his season’s tally to 22, to keep his side on a good run while sinking Mathare further into relegation mess.
Police started brightly with Cliffton Miheso coming close after 22 minutes when his well-taken freekick hit the cross bar before Marvin Nabwire draw a good save from the Mathare goalkeeper two minutes later.
Mathare then had a good opportunity when Curtis Wekesa made a rare foray into the Kenya Police box before unleashing a good low shot following poor defending by the law enforcers but missed from inches wide.
Police, however, got the reward for their enterprising display in the 36th minute when Nabwire made a good run on the right of his side’s attack before squaring for Rupia in the box and the former AFC Leopards striker made no mistake for his 22nd of the season, which leaves him three behind the league’s top scorer Benson Omala of Gor Mahia.
Alfred Man’geni had a chance to make it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime but the Mathare custodian was equal to the task to deny him.
The second half did not witness much action in the early exchanges with Rupia and Miheso getting half chances but Francis Baraza’s Police should have scored at least two goals later, following the introduction of Duke Abuya.
The former Kariobangi Sharks star changed the complexion of the game, proving a thorn in the flesh of the Mathare defence as he created two good chances for Rupia and Miheso but poor finishing let them down.
Abuya himself had a chance to score late in the game but missed from close range as the contest ended with just one goal.
Victory leaves Police fourth on the log on 56 points, four behind third-placed Nzoia Sugar who beat Kakamega Homeboyz 2-0 at Bukhungu Stadium on Sunday.
The law enforcers have now won four while drawing one of their last five matches to stay on course for a podium finish with four matches remaining.
For Mathare, defeat spells more trouble as they are second from bottom on the 18-team table on 22 points and looking likely to surrender their top flight status, having seen Wazito overtake them to stay in the relegation playoff position 16, with one point more.
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