A second half goal from substitute Suman Lama gave Nepal Police Club their first win as they edged Jawalakhel Youth Club 1-0 win in the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League match at the Dasharath Stadium at Tripureshwar on Sunday.

Lama, who came as a 51st minute replacement for Buddha Bal Tamang, scored the winner in the 70th for the departmental team in their second match of the league campaign. In the first game played last week, Police had shared points with Tribhuvan Army FC after a 1-1 draw. Jawalakhel had lost 1-0 to Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in their last game.

It was the fifth victory and clean sheet in a row for Police in 'A' Division league over Jawalakhel. With the outcome, Police climbed jointly to the second place with four points along with Sankata Club and Satdobato Youth Club after two matches. Jawalakhel, New Road Team and APF FC, which have yet to open scoring in the standings, are at the bottom of the table remaining pointless. Manang Marshyangdi Club lead the standings with six points.

In the evenly contested affair, winger Amir Shrestha's 10th minute strike sailed inches wide. Jawlakhel called Police goalie Satrughan K Chaudhary into action in the 39th to deny Rup Bahadur Lama's 30-yard freekick. Police replied a minute later as Tej Tamang fired Ravi Shankar Paswan's left flank cross only for Jawalakhel goalie Tikendra Singh Thapa to make a spectacular save.

In the second half, custodian Thapa punched Paswan's long-range strike to safety. Police thought that they had taken the lead moments later when Paswan's flick rattled the woodwork at an open net as Jawalakhel goalie was rushing forward at the open net. Paswan had headed Man Bahadur Pariyar's freekick.

Jawalakhel responded in the 67th when their foreign recruit Onguna Junior smashed on post before goalie Chaudhary parried to deny it. Santa Bahadur Gurung fired in the rebounder only to smash the woodwork.

Lama hit the decisive goal in the 70th in a counterattack after he collected Paswan’s long range pass and fired at the far post from the left side of the area.

Police coach Ananta Raj Thapa lamented the absence of foreign recruits in the team as all three departmental teams are playing without foreigner players in the squad due to their official policy. "It was a tough game and all teams are of similar level in the league. We could be one of the best teams of the championship if we could hire foreign recruits," said Tamang. "We got a timely score and every match will be tough because all teams are strong."

His Jawalakhel counterpart KC said that Police were able to score a surprise goal. "Luck is not favouring us. Two strikes hit the woodwork," said KC.