Top tier debutants Church Boys United (CBU) squandered an opportunity to climb on top of the table after they succumbed to a 1-1 draw against bottom side Friends Club while a solitary goal from Ajayi Martins gave Three Star a 1-0 victory over Nepal Police Club in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League on Thursday.

The only unbeaten team this season, CBU conceded a penalty in the middle of the second half and walked away with their fifth draw in a row despite taking an early lead at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar. Amit Tamang converted a penalty for Friends in the 71st minute to cancel out Joseph Bempah’s 21st minute lead.

Following an impressive start to their top tier campaign with three wins in a row, CBU were hoping that the newly appointed coach Bal Gopal Maharjan would bring them back to winning ways and they seemed to be heading toward the right direction. But the second half penalty poured cold water on their ambition.

Veteran coach Maharjan was taking charge of the team for the first time following the resignation of American citizen Pradip Humagain due to hassles in obtaining a work permit.

Following the completion of the eighth round, CBU came level with third placed Jawalakhel and Three Star, who earlier beat Nepal Police Club 1-0, on 14 points. Satdobato Youth Club lead the standings with 16 points, one point ahead of second placed Manang Marshyangdi Club. Friends climbed one spot up to 13th on five points pushing Police at the rock bottom in the 14-team contest. The bottom two sides at the end of the league will be relegated to the second tier.

Forward Joseph Bempah gave an early lead to the CBU in the 21st minute. The Ghanaian beat an offside trap to collect a long pass from defender Sushil Shahi and slot home the semi-volley from area in one-on-one with custodian Bishal Sunar.

But Friends, captained by Prakash Budhathoki, pushed on for the equaliser and threatened during an hour mark when Prem Bhandari sent a through pass to Rafiq Aminu but the sprinting forward failed to connect it despite reaching close to ball and gave an easy opportunity for goalie Yves Priso to collect it.

Four minutes later, Friends had their header goal ruled as offside. But their effort was rewarded in the 68th after CBU defender Manoj Rai unnecessarily brought down Friends’ Aminu inside the area. Amit Tamang converted from the spot to snatch a point.

In the day’s early kick off, a solitary goal from forward Martins became decisive in Three Star’s victory at the artificial turf of ANFA Complex in Satdobato.

The Nigerian forward slammed in the all-important goal in the 65th minute as Lalitpur-based Three Star secured their fourth victory apart from two draws and as many defeats. Martins fed a short pass to caretaker captain Ashok Khawas at the right flank and sprinted at the area before rifling a one-touch strike after the defender supplied him a cut back pass.

The ninth round of the action will begin on Saturday.