Tribhuvan Army Club defeated Waling Municipality 2-0 to keep alive their title hunt in the National Women’s League on Tuesday, thanks to an early goal by Sharmila Thapa.

Nepal Police Club were the other winners at the ANFA Complex as they saw off Biratnagar Metropolitan City 3-0.

Army took the lead after 53 seconds when Bimala Chaudhary pounced on a weak clearance by Waling defender Sarishma Thapa before connecting to midfielder Indira Rai who quickly sent the ball over the defending line at the edge of the box and the waiting striker flashed it into the back of the net.

The strong Waling side were in constant search for a leveller against a well-organised Army defence in an entertaining match and almost scored in the 14th minute when the club’s highest scorer Metho Eludie Ruth bulleted a shot from 17 metres near the boundary line to the top corner only to be finger-tipped by goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar over the bar.

Chaudhary came close to doubling Army’s lead in the 27th minute when she flashed a low shot past advancing goalkeeper from the left of the box but the ball bounced off the bar before it was cleared by Waling defenders.

However, Army were gifted with another goal just before the break when a cross from Sapana Thapa deflected off the Waling defender Pushpa Gurung at the goal line.

The win again reduced Army’s gap with Armed Police Club to two points, who lead the standings with 21 points after the champions thrashed bottom club Chaudandigadhi 14-0 on Monday. APF can extend the lead further on Wednesday, with their next meeting set with sixth-placed Chandrapur Municipality.

Army have 19 points after playing a draw with Nepal Police Club in the opener, with their only loss this season coming against APF on January 26.

“It is an important victory for us…for the second position,” said Army coach Raju Tamang. “Waling are strong team and the match was highly competitive. We did not waste our chances and the early lead helped us a lot.”

A nine-point gap separated Army from Waling who have 11 points, and still kept hold of the third spot on head-to-head difference despite Police getting the better of Biratnagar, courtesy of Niru Thapa brace and Nirmala Upadhyaya opener.

“We played better against a tough opponent but could not bring the result [in our favour],” said Waling coach Dilip Thapa. “The race is now for the third position.”

Upadhyaya opened the scoring for Police when her deflected shot from inside the box flew over Biratnagar goalkeeper and captain Kalpana Karki in the 41st minute.

Thapa then scored two goals in the space of three minutes. Upadhyaya volleyed a shot from the left of the six yard box which the goalkeeper saved weakly allowing Thapa to score in the 57th minute. She then capitalised on a mistake from defender Sarita Sherpa to avenge their first leg defeat.

Biratnagar have 10 points from eight matches and slipped to fifth.

Winless Chaudandigadhi Municipality are at the bottom of the table.