Kathmandu. May 10:Manang Marshyangdi Club’s  Basanta Thapa hugged into the limelight after scoring  hat-trick against the Friends Club to lift his team   for the title hunt in the ongoing Martyrs’ Memorial League Champion at the National Dasharath stadium, Wednesday.

With third   win  in a row  now Manang boys have virtually tightened their nose for to top the table , leaving behind other clubs far away. On the other hand,  two draws and one  loss have put Friends’ Club of Kupondole in a  very tight spot. Friends’ Club boys will have to win all the upcoming matches in order to move into semis.

In the first half, despite taking the lead in the 11th minute by Manang both the teams were equally balanced   but after the lemon break, Manang boys dominated the proceeding.

Though from the outset of the game, both  Manang strikers  Basanta Thapa and Rajan Rayamajhi   had given  a tough  time  for the Friends’ defenders  and they were well supplied by Rajesh Shahi from the middle . In the  11th minutes Basanta Thapa gave  his team a much needed lead with a right footer  shot fired from the striking zone, giving no chance to the Friends’ keeper, Lalit Chand.

Even the Friends Club produced some good brand of football but were unable to break through in the goalmouth of MMC which were very well defended by  Prakash Dewan and Anil Subba.

Suzeet KC, Bill Tamang and  Suhsil K.C tried hard to level the score but  due to   the lack of coordination among them and  poor finish, the attacks fizzled in the middle while the Manng boys looked more threatening as the game progressed.

After the lemon break, Manang boys continued to pressure Friends’ Club with well built moves coming from all sides of the ground. The goal seemed to be well on the cards in any moments. Finally, Basanta consolidated the lead in the 3rd minute of the second half through a pass of   Kumar  Thapa.

Friends’ Club tried hard to cut the lead but their efforts went all in vain. Friends’ Club had to face further  blow after Sunil KC  their main play maker was marched off from the ground  after being booked two yellow tickets.

With tem men on the ground, Friends’ game further  plunged while the rival’s made most out it. In the 84thminutes, Basanta enlarged the margins  which saw his first-hatrick of the season. Within a minute Manang boys were lucky to add one. The ball touched the net when   Naresh Thapa trying to clear the ball of Rajan Rayamajhi.  The fourth goal buried the chance of Friends’ Club to fight back.