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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

“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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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