Tribhuvan Army Club trounced Chaudandigadhi Municipality 12-0 to narrow the gap on leaders Armed Police Force Club in the National Women’s Football League on Wednesday.

Army rested five first-choice players Dipa Rai, Anjana Rana Magar, Indira Rai, Sapana Lama and captain Kabita Dhimal against a team that had already conceded a combined 51 goals in their previous five matches and the makeshift midfielder Hema Chaudhary made an instant impact poking a third minute opener with a solo effort at the ANFA Complex.

Sharmila Thapa scored the first of her individual five goals in the game in the 6th minute tapping in a pass from Bimala Chaudhary.

Anjali Waiba, who took the armband from Kabita for the day, made it 3-0 two minutes later. Sharmila controlled a cross from Hema with her left foot near the box and set up Anjali who sent the ball flying into the top corner.

Sharmila scored another in the 12th minute converting a pass from Anjali, and added two more—bending a pass from Bimala in the 23rd and chipping another in the 29th minute.

Bimala made it 7-0 beautifully rocketing a left-footed volley into the top corner in the 30th minute, before gifting Sharmila her fifth goal of the game six minutes later with her quick thinking. Army were awarded a free kick. Bimala took it quickly. Chaudandigadhi defenders were caught napping and the player of the match capitalised it beating the confused goalkeeper Susmita Rai to make it 8-0 before the half-time.

Bimala BK continued the rout quickly after the break, hurling a shot from outside the box straight into the net in the 48th minute.

Rashmi Ghishing made the score 10-0 in the 84th minute when a rebound ball got into her path, and second-half substitute Sapana Lama wrapped up the victory sending a low shot into the left-bottom corner in the 87th and the skillfully beating advancing goalkeeper in the added time.

The third consecutive victory gave Army 13 points from six matches, having played a goalless draw with Nepal Police Club and losing to APF 2-0 earlier. The unbeaten APF have 18 points.

A total of seven Army players were on the score sheet but Army assistant coach Sushil Shreebastab was not happy with the performance of other players.

“We played to win today…which we did. We presented an opportunity to the benched players but they could not give their best,” said Shreebastab.

Chaudandigadhi are yet to win a game and remain rock-bottom in the league.

“We lose because the defenders and midfielders cannot establish coordination in the game. Our players cannot keep the ball in possession nor can defenders stop the opponents,” fumed Chaudandigadhi coach Dipak Thapa whose side have now let in 63 goals in the league in reply to their one that came against sixth placed Chandrapur on January 25.

Biratnagar Metropolitan City climbed to third after pulling off a shocking 1-0 win against Nepal Police Club in the later match of the day thanks to a Parbati Ghale winner.

Parbati gave Biratnagar a shock lead in the 9th minute taking advantage of a mistake from Police defender Mani Gurung at the edge of the box.

That was the only shot on target managed in the entire game as Biratnagar held on to the lead to draw a crucial win.

“Our players did well today. Our strategy worked,” said Biratnagar coach Paras Chaudhary.

The defeat gave a hammer blow to Police’s hopes of chasing the leaders. Instead they slipped to fourth in the standings with eight points and are level with Waling Municipality who are fifth on an inferior goal difference.

“Our players have not been able to play to their fullest. We lost today and that is a big hit to our title hopes,” said Police coach Sanjeev Joshi.