Local League: Gnanavel’s brace helps Indian Bank triumph

The hosts were in sublime form throughout the tournament and continued their good work. V Surendar put them ahead in the 10th minute when he sent the ball crashing into the board off a penalty corner. 

Indian Bank doubled their lead seven minutes later when IOB’s Senthil fouled an Indian Bank striker. The referee awarded a penalty stroke and Indian Bank’s talisman Gnanavel sent the ball into the net like a tracer bullet. 

Indian Bank went into the break with a 2-0 lead and their opponents came firing all cylinders after the break. D Muthuselvan reduced the arrears for Indian Overseas Bank by one in the 44th minute while Harmanpreet Singh helped restore parity soon after, with both the goals coming off penalty corners. 

However, Gnanavel and India Bank had the last laugh by the hour mark when the dragflicker executed his shot to perfection to put the contest beyond IOB’s reach. 

Indian Bank coach Prabhakaran was elated said the confidence in his boys was the difference between the two teams. “We have a good team, including Binesh Nayak, Thirumalvallavan and Jagdeep Dayal in addition to Gnanavel. Our practice sessions were fruitful and that lifted our spirits. We had an expert dragflicker in Gnanvel and his form throughout the tournament was vital. I am happy that we could pull it off,” Prabhakaran said. 

Raheel of IOB was awarded the man-of-the-match while Gnanavel was adjudged the player of the tourmanemt. 

Earlier, Integral Coach Factory (ICF) beat Central Excise 2-1 in the third-place play-off match. Central Excise took the lead in the 11th minute through John but could not hold on to their lead as M Iyappan (39, 63) scored a brace for ICF to seal the match.