Prek Pra’s Run Roya (left) controls the ball in front of Rithy Sen’s Kim Pisal during their Metfone C-League clash yesterday. Photo by: SRENG MENG SRUN

Prek Pra Keila won the battle of the bottom-enders 1-0 yesterday against lowly Rithy Sen to keep alive their chances of avoiding relegation from the Metfone C-League.

A ninth minute strike by Ron Roya, a pinch drive from the top of the box off a neat pass from national team member Sos Souhana, set Prek Pra Keila on the path to victory. It was by no means easy to defend as slender a lead as that, but the Prek Pra back line rose to the occasion and Yok Ary under the bar proved a hard nut to crack.

In fact it was the keeper’s gutsy save off a thundering drive by Set Kamel that saved the day for Prek Pra. There were some intense midfield exchanges and a few incisive runs into each other’s boxes, but overall Prek Pra’s majority of possession and their control of space helped them out of tight situations at Olympic Stadium.

Rithy Sen’s tale of woe continued with another loss to entrench them even further at the bottom of the table, with the Kampong Chhnang side still yet to taste their inaugural victory in the top tier.

The success for Prek Pra has thrown them a lifeline to stay in the elite company as they switched places with survival rivals Chhlam Samuth. The teams are set to face each other on August 20 in what could well be a make or break encounter that decides their fate.

Naga v Sharks washed out

Heavy rains forced the cancellation of yesterday’s second scheduled game between Naga Corp and Chhlam Samuth after the first half of play saw the unstoppable Julius Oiboh fire a goal in the sixth minute to give his side a flying start.

Naga were gradually building up the pressure on the Sea Sharks when the skies opened and flooded the pitch in double quick time.

The playing arena was progressively getting waterlogged when the teams went in for the break, and after referee Thong Chanketya and his two assistants made assessments spread over nearly an hour, the match was called off.

Later it was announced over the public address system that this fixture would be replayed at 2:00pm on Wednesday, pushing the game scheduled for that same slot between Phnom Penh Crown and National Defence Ministry to a 4:00pm start. Oiboh’s goal has been struck from the records, as has team-mate Om Thavrak’s red card.