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Top-flight league champions Mighty Wanderers started their title defence in the inaugural FDH Premiership with a hard-fought 1-2 victory over a strong-willed Creck Sporting Club at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji yesterday.

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Initially, the Nomads were supposed to face Karonga United in a launch game last weekend, but it was postponed due to an impasse between Football Association of Malawi and Super League of Malawi over the state of Kamuzu Stadum in Blantyre.

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In yesterday’s match, the Blantyre-based giants drew first blood in the 40th minute through new-signing Lameck Mithi from a Stanley Sanudi delivery.

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But Creck’s Lawrent Banda cancelled the lead in the 72nd minute when he connected home a well-curled cross from Jackson Beza.

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With the match seemingly headed for a stalemate, the champions pounced.

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Striker Promise Kamwendo restored the lead for the Nomads with a fabulous shot in the 81st minute.

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The Nomads are now sixth with three points from one match, but with a game in hand.

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Wanderers assistant coach McDonald Mtetemera admitted that they sweated for the victory.

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“We knew it was not going to be an easy match, but credit for the boys, they fought every inch of the way,” said the former Creck Sporting mentor.

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His Creck counterpart Elia Kananji said attributed the loss to defensive lapses.

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“We were guilty of ball watching, both goals were give aways,” he said.

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At Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza, FCB Nyasa Bullets registered their first win after seeing off Salima-based Mafco FC 1-0 courtesy of Vitumbiko Phiri’s 46th minute own goal.

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The defender turned into an angel of mercy for the People’s Team when he failed to deal with Chawanangwa Gumbo’s cross to send the Bullets faithful into ecstacy.

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Bullets are now fourth with four points having drawn their first match 2-2 against Lilongwe-based Civil Service United in their opening match.

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Masters FC of Lilongwe made it two wins out of two matches when they came from a goal down to beat Karonga United 1-2 at Karonga Stadium.

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The Peter Mponda-coached side is level on six points with leaders Silver Strikers, but the Bankers have the bragging rights courtesy of a superior goal difference.

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The hosts took the lead through Godfrey Sibale in the 17th minute before Masters equalised via Stain Dave’s header from a Precious Sambani cross before Phillimon Ndlovu claimed the einner in the 54th minute.

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Civil were also 1-0 winners against Goshen City Dedza Dyanamos away at Dedza Stadium via  Madalitso Maso’s strike.

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They are third with four points and are tied on points with Bullets with the same goal difference.

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