Sabitra Bhandari double helped Armed Police Force (APF) Club overcome Waling Municipality 3-0 and continue their perfect record in the National Women’s Football League on Saturday, while Biratnagar Metropolitan City vanquished Chaudandigadhi Municipality 6-0 to move into third.

At the ANFA Complex, Sabitra put APF ahead in the 13th minute when defender Manmaya Limbu released Sabitra just outside the box from the left, who then brilliantly beat the Waling goalkeeper Sabitri Kishan and fired into the left bottom corner.

Second half substitute Preeti Rai doubled the lead in the 71st minute. Preeti volleyed a cross from captain Anita Basnet from the left and the goalie Sabitri parried her shot which again fell to Preeti`s path. She stepped forward and blasted into the top corner.

Sabitra then made sure the departmental side walk home unbeaten in the 74th minute. It was Preeti again who found the striker inside the box and Sabitra struck a low shot past Sabitri into the net.

The win strengthened APF’s lead at top with 15 points, eight ahead of the second placed Tribhuvan Army Club who have a game in hand. It is also their fifth clean sheet in the five games they have played in the league, having scored 20 goals.

Waling slipped to the fifth with five points.

Earlier in the day, goals from Anu Rai, Ema Rai, Manisha Thapa Magar, Kusum Khatiwada and Parbati Ghale capped Biratnagar’s comfortable win over Chaudandigadhi.

Anu opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and doubled the lead in the 36th minute. Ema and Manisha then got on the score sheet in the 39th and 43rd minutes as helpless Chaudandigadhi were down 4-0 before the break.

Chaudandigadhi showed some fighting spirit in the second half but Kusum broke their resilience in the 82nd minute and Parbati added another a minute later to pile misery on rock-bottom Chaudandigadhi, who are still looking for their first win in the league. They have already conceded 29 goals in their four matches in reply to their 1 which came in their 7-1 defeat against Chandrapur five days ago.

“We could not maintain possession. We could not fight back,” said Chaudandigadhi coach Dipak Thapa.

The win helped Biratnagar topple Nepal Police Club at third who play sixth placed Chandrapur Municipality on Sunday. Biratnagar have seven points and are level with Tribhuvan Army Club who have superior goal difference.

“It is always good to get three points,” said Biratnagar coach Paras Chaudhary. “But we still have a lot of work to do so that we could climb to second.”