Mohammedan Sporting Club have to beat arch rivals Abahani Krira Chakra tn the last match to retain the title as the reigning

champions beat strong Mariner Young's Club by a comfortable margin of two goals in the Green Delta First Division hockey league at the Hockey Stadium yesterday.

The win lakes Mohammedans collection to 27 from 14 matches, one short of Abahani's full 26 points from 13 matches. A draw In the August 13 derby will help Abahani regain title after a fairly long time while only a win would give Mohammedans the title because Abahani are highly to stumble against lowly Bangladesh Boys, one of their remaining two opponents In this year's league.

Yesterday Mohammedans led the first half one-nil with former Pakistan International Mumtaz Halder sounding the beard.

Mohammedans went all out for a win right from the word go and the tough Mariner defence fell under relentless assault In the 12th minute.

Sadek, lop scorer of the league and one of the most

promising of the local players, opened the Mariner defence with a beautiful pass and the lethal and vocal Mumtaz sounded the board with his customary panache (1-0).

Mohammedans kept up the pressure after this early success but poor finishing stopped them from consolidating their position.

Mariner, who took time to settle down, gradually asserted themselves In the share of exchanges. In the 28th minute they came across an excellent scoring chance but stocky Palash failed to knock the ball into an open goal after Isa sent tn a neat cross.

Mohammedans pitched themselves in the second half to

fortify their position but again the scorers were unable to deliver the goods

Mariners launched sporadic offensives in the second half but their relatively weaker offence lacked tn penetration

Having clung on to the slender lead Mohammedans finally got the chance of being over with frets and doubts of being robbed of It.

Ten minutes from time they were awarded a penalty stroke when Mariner custodian Micky went out of his way to obstruct a Mohammedan move.

Sadek converted the penalty stroke to take his Individual tally to 17 (2-0).

The defeat made Mariners stay at their previous collection of 19 points from 14 matches.

In the first match of the day Sonali Bank defeated Wanderers (1-0)

Qamrul Ahsan scored the match winner in the 27th minuted of the match.