Ulinzi Stars inflicted more misery on Betking Premier League defending champions Gor Mahia by edging them 1-0 at Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show ground in Nakuru yesterday.

The goal that did all the damage to Gor, who had fallen 2-1 to Kariobangi Sharks going into the fixture, was netted by Alex Masinde in the 17th minute. From a Masita Masuta free-kick, the ball hit the post with Masinde reacting quickest to head the ball past the unsighted Gor custodian Gad Matthews.

During the highly physical match, a desperate Gor made changes, bringing on Tito Okelllo and Cliffton Miheso to replace Samuel Onyango and Philemon Otieno respectively but the team found Ulinzi defence of Harun Mwale, Brian Birgen and Alex Khasambuli impenetrable.

Ulinzi showed hunger for goals as early as the ninth minute when Mark Bikokwa threatened K’ogalo defence outside the box but was inaccurate with his shot.

Elsewhere in Ruaraka, Bidco United and Nairobi City Stars were each reduced to ten men in the dying minutes in a game which the Thika-based side won 2-1.

Meanwhile, with either Tusker or KCB being tipped to clinch the league title, it seems that there is a lot to write home about eight other teams that are below them in the season and which are likely to wind up in the top three slots.

Leading the octal are AFC Leopards and Kariobangi Sharks who are at third and fourth positions respectively after amassing 44 points apiece.

Other teams in the groove are Wazito (41 points), Kakamega Homeboyz (40 points), Bandari (40 points), Gor Mahia (40 points) and Nairobi City Stars (38 points).

Incidentally, the octal are separated by slim point margins or difference, which makes their remaining fixtures all too interesting to bookmakers.

According to popular opinions, odds are stacked heavily against 10th-placed Ulinzi Stars, who are perched in the tenth position in the chart, to wind up their campaign in the top three positions.

 But looking critically at the statistics in the top-tier league, it would sound heedless to write off Ulinzi for the probability and especially given that there is an average of six matches remaining for the teams before the conclusion of the season.

Three teams which are below in the pecking order including Bidco United (32 points), Sofapaka (30 points) and Posta Rangers (28 points) all seem odds on favorites for the position.

Last weekend, the league title drifted into a two-horse race between Tusker and KCB after the latter dismissed Kariobangi Sharks 3-0.