In Safe hands?: Moran Town Club and North Jorhat Sub-Association players in action at Jorhat Stadium on Wednesday. A Telegraph picture

Jorhat, Oct. 29: Janab Deuri’s three-goal magic did not get the applause it deserved as Moran Town Club tamed North Jorhat Sub-Association 7-2 in the inaugural match of the ATPA Shield Football Tournament before near-empty stands at Jorhat Stadium here today.

In the one-sided affair, Moran Town Club dominated the proceedings right from the start with Janab Deuri opening the floodgates for Moran in the very fifth minute. Their euphoria was, however, cut short by Pawan Dutta Medhi of North Jorhat Sub-association in the 14th minute when he fetched the equaliser.

Deuri fashioned the lead once again in the 26th minute, which was further consolidated by Luhit Tai five minutes later. He struck again for his third goal in the 35th minute to put the North Jorhat players on the back foot. The North Jorhat men added to their own misery by conceding a same side goal in the 44th minute.

The visitors started the second session on a defensive note, defending the 5-1 lead. The North Jorhat men, realising their opponent’s strategy, went on the offensive and in the 71st minute they were successful in reducing the margin when Naba Mesh netted a goal.

This setback, however, prompted the Moran men to re-launch their offensive and they started battering the North Jorhat defence with renewed vigour.

Their attacks crumbled the North Jorhat defence and two more goals came from the versatile Luhit Tai in the 80th and 85th minutes, taking the lead to 7-1.

Although the match today was full of action, the relatively empty stands put a certain damper on the proceedings.

Ten teams are participating in the tournament. The final will be played on November 7. Tinsukia Railway Divisional SC will play Eastantic Club, Jorhat, here tomorrow.