The 1-1 draw against Wazalendo on Sunday could return to haunt the USIU-A Mashujaa in the long run, according to team captain Jamleck Machariah.
The dismal show denied the students maximum points and a chance to move up to third place in the 10-team league log.
The skipper said lack of character was their main undoing and they paid dearly for it. "Three points were there for the taking but we were outplayed in the opening two quarters. Wazalendo dominated us in the first half and we were forced to put our act together in the second to escape with a point," Macharia pointed out.
He said a change in tact paid off for Mashujaa who are targeting a top-three finish for the first time after becoming mid-table dwellers.
"We bossed the midfield and looked better in the second half. It was a great point considering they beat us 2-0 in the first leg. We have garnered four points from the first two matches of the second leg and we can only get better," he noted.
He added: "Our conversion is improving while the understanding of the players has moved a notch higher. Top three is firmly in our hands but the worst case scenario should be fourth."
Following the weekend results, there were no major changes in the top half of the table. Mashujaa maintained the fourth position with 15 points after their outcome while Wazalendo remained third.
Leaders Butali and second-placed Kenya Police were not in action. The duo have 26 and 23 points respectively. Strathmore Scorpions and Western Jaguars also maintained their fifth and sixth positions and have played two games less.
After beating Mombasa Sports Club 3-1, Greensharks moved to seventh with 13 points as Sailors dropped to eighth. Despite hammering Parkroad Badgers 2-0, MSC are rooted at the bottom with four points. Badgers are ninth with six points.
