FCB Nyasa Bullets  om Saturday derailed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ quest to narrow the gap between them and league leaders Silver Strikers after a dramatic 2-1 victory in a Blantyre derby played on a scorching afternoon at Kamuzu.

Apart from the usual battle for bragging rights, the two sides had contrasting motivations going into the match.

Second-placed Wanderers, who are six points adrift of leaders Silver, entered the pitch bent on cutting Silver’s lead to three points.

Bullets on the other hand, knew that a victory will not have an impact on the log table as they sat fourth with 37 points.

But a victory ensured they moved to third and displaced Mzuzu City Hammers who drew against Moyale Barracks yesterday.

At the end of the day, it boiled down to who wanted it most and Bullets just proved that.

From the opening 15 minutes, Bullets were all over their opponents with midfielders Chikumbutso Salima and Wongani Lungu the architect of most of the moves aimed at unleashing Nigerian Babatunde Adepoju and Zimbabwean Ronald Chitiyo who caused havoc to Wanderers in the final third.

It did not take long before Bullets took control of the match and got the opener in the sixth minute  when Chitiyo, who was played in by defender Nickson Mwase, fired the visitors ahead with a powerful shot  to the roof of the net as Wanderers goalkeeper William Thole watched in awe.

The goal, the first for Chitiyo in the TNM Super League since joining Bullets at the start of the season, energised the striker who run half way through the pitch to the Bullets technical area  to hug his compatriot coach Kallisto Pasuwa.

After the goal, Wanderers took time to settle down, but once they did, they responded with a barrage of attacks, led by midfielders Wisdom Mpinganjira and Isaac Kaliyati who worked tirelessly to get the balls into the box for Cameroonian striker Thierry Tanjong Sama.

Wanderers coach Meck Mwase who had gambled to leave out his utility midfielder Blessings Singini for Dan Kudonto, immediately realised his blunder and reversed the decision in the 28th minute.

The substitution helped to stabilise the Nomads midfield where Bullets dominated through McDonald Singo.

But the search for an equaliser ended in vain as Bullets doubled the lead in the 43rd minute through Babatunde who received a pass from Lungu after he dispossessed midfielder Felix Zulu.

Trailing 0-2 at half-time, Wanderers made two more changes after the break as Gaddie Chirwa and Francisco Madinga replaced Stanley Sanudi and Kaliati in the 59th minute.

Pasuwa also made changes and brought in Lloyd Aaron for Stanley Billiat.

Bullets almost got a third goal from a corner kick but Salima was denied by a brilliant save from Thole before Wanderers captain Lawrence Chaziya cleared the ball on the line from the rebound.

Mwase introduced more fresh legs as Balikinho Mwakanyongo and Clement Nyondo came in for Zulu and Wallace Adam.

In response, Bullets introduced Precious Sambani for Salima.

Wanderers closest chance came in the 77th minute when Timothy Silwimba long range shot bounced off the cross bar.

But the Nomads were dealt a blow in the 82nd minute when referee David Chinoko showed Chaziya a red card after a second yellow.

Yet the Nomads fought on and reduced the deficit to 1-2 in the 87th minute through Sama.

With five minutes added on time, Wanderers pushed for an equaliser but Bullets hanged on to the end.

Pasuwa in a post-match interview said the victory would help give confidence to his charges.

“Remember we have been dropping points, but having such kind of a win in a derby will give confidence to the boys,” he said.

On his part, Mwase said they gave away silly goals in the first-half which cost them the match.

“We started well, but in a course of five minutes, we lost control.