Samjhana Lawati scored a double as Nepal Police Club defeated Waling Municipality 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten run in the ANFA Women’s League at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday.

The victory also helped Police close the gap with second-placed Tribhuvan Army Club in the table to one point after seventh round. Police have 15 points from four victories and three draws.

Defending champions Armed Police Force Club, the only other unbeaten team in the league, lead the standings with 19 points.

Waling stays in fourth position with 12 points and are firmly in the contention to progress to the Super League stage. The top five teams at the end of the single round robin league advance to the second round.

Waling started the season with a 4-0 loss against Koshi Province but their Ugandan trio Jackline Nassali, Cissy Nantongo and Viola Namuddu have dramatically revived their campaign, making them one of the top contenders for the top five race.

However, they were wasteful on Saturday despite being the better side in the first half.

Waling’s first clean chance came in the 3rd minute when Sushma Tamang’s tight-angled effort found Nassali for a free header after hitting the crossbar but the Ugandan headed straight into goalkeeper Usha Nath.

Sajina Koirala had a scoring opportunity in the 10th minute when a corner from Nantango found her unmarked inside the just outside of the six yard box but Koirala could not capitalise on it.

And Police punished them with two second half goals.

Lawati broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. After Niru Thapa slipped a ball to Lawati, she brilliantly executed a dummy to outsmart Waling defender Maya Maskey before crashing the ball into the net.

Lawati then added her second and the winning goal in the first minute of the stoppage time after Maskey failed to clear a cross from 90th minute substitute Nirmala Upadhyaya.

Owoeye shines for Sankata

League debutants Sankata Club also boosted their chance to progress to the next stage after they thrashed Sudurpaschim Province 6-0 earlier on the day at the same venue.

Nigerian Temilope Jeniffer Owoeye found the net four times for Sankata, while Mamata Pun and Purnima Hamal also got to the scoresheet.

Owoeye put Sankata in front in the fourth minute heading in a cross from Manisha Thapa Magar and doubled the lead in the 12th minute taking advantage of a miscommunication between Sudurpaschim goalkeeper Tikesori Saud and defender Manisha Okheda.

The Nigerian completed her hat-trick in the 53rd minute with a brilliant solo effort.

Pun added Sankata’s fourth after Manisha Thapa Magar put her through.

Hamal extended Sankata’s lead three minutes later after Punam Chemjong set her up inside the box.

Owoeye then wrapped up a comfortable victory from penalty in the fifth minute of the stoppage time after Shanti BK badly challenged her inside the box.

It was winless Sudurpaschim’s seventh straight loss in the league. They have now conceded 46 goals against their three scored and sit at the bottom of the table.

The win moved Sankata up to sixth position with eight points.