Ascent Soccer Academy and Nyasa Big Bullets Women on Saturday tightened their top-three race in the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership with thumping victories.

Ascent thrashed fellow Lilongwe-based side and hosts Fact Ladies 6-0 at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe while Blantyre-based Bullets Women thumped visitors Rumphi Sisters 6-1 at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.

The victories mean Ascent remain second on the 10-team log-table on better goal-difference as they are tied on 15 points with third-placed Bullets Women.

Leaders and champions Silver Strikers Ladies of Lilongwe also had the same points with a game in hand before facing Blantyre-based Mighty Wanderers Queens at Silver Stadium by press time yesterday.

Ascent coach Thom Mkolongo and his Bullets Women counterpart Maggie Chombo-Sadiki admitted that their scoring galore was aimed at strengthening their stand on the log-table.  

“The title battle is very tight and we realize that scoring as many goals as possible could be vital at the end of the fixtures in case there are ties on points,” said Mkolongo.

On her part, Chombo-Sadiki said she has told her charges to keep on scoring goals when opportunities arise because “you never know what might help you win the title”. 

On Saturday at Nankhaka Stadium, the rampant Ascent Academy scored through Leticia Chinyamula’s hat-trick and strikes by Alephar Chimbeta, Mayamiko Mkandawire and Ethel Tambala.

At Mpira Stadium, Bullets put up a dominant display that saw registering a comfortable win through Mary Chavinda’s hat-trick, Vanessa Issa’s brace and Lyna James’ strike.

Before yesterday’s matches, Chinyamula had overtaken Vitumbiko Mkandawire of Civil Service Women as the league’s leading scorer. She increased her tally to nine goals, one ahead of Mkandawire.

Chavinda, Silver Ladies’ Yamikani Mhango and Mayamiko Mkandawire of Ascent were joint third with a tie on six goals.