A moment from the match between NF Railway (in red) and Assam Police at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Aug. 22: Defending champions Northeast Frontier Railway Sports Club (NFR SC) edged past Assam Police Blues by a solitary goal in a match of the Abhishek Motors R.G. Baruah Trophy Guwahati Sports Association (GSA) Super Division league at Nehru Stadium here today.

The match witnessed policemen dominating the proceedings although it was Chayaram Basumatary’s 20th minute goal that earned NF Railway the victory to remain in contention for the title.

With the kickoff, the policemen displayed great flare with repeated inroads into NF Railway’s territory.

Assam Police midfielder Rajen Zoya’s strike from inside the box in the second minute missed the net by a slight margin. It was followed by another sitter, squandered by Joseph Maslai in the fifth minute.

The railmen, failing to make ground, also faced an injury hitch, as Bijoy Das had to be carried away in the 13th minute. It was the 20th minute which saw the deadlock being broken with Chayaram making no mistake in finding the back of the net. Receiving a pass from Dipak Ghatowar from the edge of the box, he ensured the advantage was theirs.

Jelendra Brahma tried to enhance the lead in the 22nd minute by making his way past the defenders but his shot landed in the safe hands of the police custodian Kailash Das.

The policemen continued with their desperate attempts to find the much-needed equaliser but missed each time.

The second half, too, witnessed Assam Police making repeated attempts at the goal. Lohit Taye’s pass to Monoj Boro, whose back pass was all set for Mofidul Islam, failed to yield the required result in the 51st minute.

The railmen could only manage one notable move in the entire second half. Sibra Narzary’s pass to Jelendra Brahma saw him cruising all the way into the box although was saved by a defender inches away from the goalmouth.

The 78th minute saw some nervous faces with a powerful strike from Kajaigek Rongmei well saved by Railway custodian K. Bijen Singh followed by three back-to-back corners for them.

Food Corporation of India SC will take on Dynamo Club tomorrow.

A Division league: In the Jibeswar Goswami Trophy Guwahati first division league match on the second turf of the same ground, Rising XI blanked out Abutani SC 3-0. Sujay Dey, Wilson Dewri and Kubal Rabha scored for the winning side.