By 
Vipers extended their lead over KCCA FC at the top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table to four points after beating Arua Hill SC 3-1 at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Ceasar Manzoki, Yunus Sentamu and Milton Karisa got Vipers’ goals to help their side secure maximum points. Gaddafi Wahab got Arua Hill’s consolation.
In what was a cagey, physical and tense affair, the visitors Arua Hill had the game’s first attempt at goal as midfielder David Ndihabwe rattled the crossbar from close range after being setup by former Venom Alfred Leku.
Vipers best attempt in the opening half fell to Milton Karisa but the forward also rattled the crossbar at the far post after a nice cross by Disan Galiwango.
Goalscoring chances were far and between in the first 45 due to Arua Hill’s combactive approach, that had them make foul after foul on the Vipers players.
From those fouls, Alfred Leku and Bright Vuni received cautions from referee Ali Sabila.
The game went into the break with nothing much to separate the two sides.
Immediately after the restart, Ceasar Manzoki pounced on a deflected ball to break the deadlock for the Venoms. It was Karim Watambala’s effort that was deflected into the path of the Congolese forward.
Moments later, Arua Hill nearly replied with a goal but Leku shot agonizingly wide after easily beating off Halid Lwaliwa.
Vipers almost doubled their lead in the 56th minute but Arua Hill goalkeeper Richard Anyama made an acrobatic save to parry away Yunus Sentamu’s curler.
But Anyama couldn’t save Karisa’s effort in the 71st minute after the forward made an excellent run to notch in following a long Najib Yiga throw-in.
But before that goal, Vipers head coach Roberto Oliviera made a double change, bringing in Frank Tumwesigye and Hillary Mukundane for Watambala and Galiwango respectively.
Arua Hill pulled a goal back in the 76th minute through Gaddafi Wahab’s volley that oozed past Fabien Mutombora.
But Sentamu restored Vipers’ two goals advantage less than four later with a sublime sole strike after dribbling past two of his markers.
Vipers had a chance to add on their game’s tally before the end of the game, but Anyama made a good stop to deny Manzoki.
With the victory, Vipers move to 39 points in 17 games, four above of second placed KCCA.
Arua Hill drop to sixth on the log with 28 points.
