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James Magayi and Fred Likuyani 

Relentless Tusker reaped instant rewards for signing pacy winger Brian Marita from AFC Leopards when the 25 year-old scored deep into extra time to earn the brewers a laboured 2-1 victory over Bandari at Mbaraki stadium in Mombasa on Sunday afternoon.

AT Bukhungu stadium, troubled Gor Mahia suffered their first league loss of the season after they were pipped 2-1 by hosts Kakamega Homeboyz.

Former Thika United striker Shami Mwinyi opened the scorers, before Nicholas Kipkurui leveled, but Ali Bhai ensured the home team carried the day with a 61st minute strike.

In picking maximum points at the dreaded Mbaraki grounds, Robert Matano’s charges underlined their title credentials with their eleventh victory of the season that keeps them on top of the league table.

Bandari took the lead in the 25th when Wycliffe Ochomo calmly dispatched a penalty awarded after Shaban Kenga had been tripped in the box.

Tusker toiled in the heat and finally got just rewards with twenty-five minutes left. Ugandan winger Hashim Sempala scored his trademark goals from distance beating Mike Wanyika with a screamer to draw Tusker level.

Late effort

Marita then completed the comeback with a late effort that sunk Bandari’s hearts and confined then to the bottom half of the table.

In the opposite end of the country defending champions Gor Mahia ominously lost their second game of the season 2-1 to title chasing Kakamega Homeboyz.

Having trained just once in seven days Gor Mahia succumbed at a packed Bukhungu stadium as Homeboyz registered their first ever victory over K’Ogalo.

In Machakos, John Makwatta scored a first half brace as AFC Leopards defied biting financial crunch to beat rich kids Wazito 2-0.

Youngster Austin Odhiambo, blooded into the team this season, picked Makwata with an outrageously clever pass in the 10th minute and the leading Kenyan Premier League scorer made no mistakes, blasting the ball into the roof of the net for Ingwe opener.

Odhiambo’s vision spotted Makwata again in first half added time and the youngster boldly threaded the ball which Makwata shot low past the goalkeeper to double scores for Ingwe.

The money bags had no comeback as they succumbed a fifth straight loss despite outspending everyone in player transfer market.

Difficult period

Earlier at the same venue, 2009 champions Sofapaka ran riot over Nzoia Sugar, scoring four goals in the second half to eased pressure on John Baraza who has endured a difficult period since confirmation as head coach.

David Simiyu opened the scores for Sofapaka two minutes into the second half before Eli Asiecehe doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Nzoia embarked on a spirited fight to claw back and Morris Kwezi pulled one back in the 65th minute.

Their enthusiasm at going forward was however, exploited as Sofapaka squeezed in a shot between the goalkeeper and his near post to restore the two-goal buffer. Skipper George Maelo then fortuitously added the fourth by guiding in an already goal bound ball.