Hwange — HWANGE failed to utilise their home advantage when they were held to a goalless draw by Harare City in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the Colliery yesterday.

The Harare side put up a brave performance following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of the coal-miners in the capital last month. The first eight minutes of the game saw Hwange taking the game to the Sunshine boys.

But in the 12th minute the visitors turned on the heat when Silas Songani sent a cross to Godfrey Nguwodzawo but his shot at goal was blocked before it troubled the home side's goalkeeper.

Six minutes later, Crybert Muvuti fired a shot into the waiting arms of Hwange goalkeeper Petros Mhari.

Barely a minute later Talent Chawapihwa was sent off after he insulted the referee Hardly Ndazi whom he accused of unfairness in his decision to award Hwange a throw in.

As if this was not enough, Hwange's Aaron Katebe was sent off after he kicked Ronald Maketo in the stomach in retaliation after he was pulled down.

With one man shot on both side, the teams scrambled to outdo each other in the middle of the park as the goals failed to come by.

The 73rd minute saw the Colliery's wonderboy Rodwell Chinyengetere receiving a yellow card for pushing Maketo. Apparently the warning did not go down well with Winstone Mhango who had also been cautioned earlier in the match for insulting the referee, resulting in him being a red carded.

With two men short, Hwange struggled with their game as the visitors threw everything at them and in the 85th minute their efforts almost paid off when Kupera sent the ball rolling into the net but their joy soon turned into despair when the referee ruled the goal for off-side.

Angered by the referee's decision Bigboy Mawiwi's boys made another spirited attempt at the goal when in the 90th minute Nyamadzawo hit the crossbar after executing a superb shot from the midfield.

Harare City's head coach Mawiwi was not happy with the referee's decision to disallow his side's goal for off-side.

"We are unhappy with the referee's decision to disallow a clear goal... We should also learn from our mistakes. However, the boys played well considering that this is our first year in the Premiership," said Mawiwi.

Hwange's Nation Dube expressed disappointment at his side's performance blaming his players for not following instructions.

Hwange .................................(0) 0

Harare City ...........................(0) 0