MARGAO: Nigerian striker Ranty Martins  recorded  yet another double as title favourites Dempo Sports Club powered past JCT Mills Phagwara 2-1 in a tense I-League match at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda, here on Saturday.

The winners shot into the lead through a classic Ranty effort but on the stroke of half time a pathetic decision in awarding a spot-kick by referee Mohd Kamil allowed JCT to get the equaliser through Baljeet Saini. However, the Goan giants settled their nerves through Ranty Martins’ match-winner seven minutes from the end.
Dempo were surprisingly slow off the blocks and that encouraged JCT to put some pressure in the early stages. Dempo’s first real move materialised only in the 21st minute but Ranty was unable to direct his header at the target following a low cross by Nicolau Borges but a minute later the Nigerian striker was in the thick of things as Armando Colaco’s side took the lead.
Ranty pouncing on a stray ball easily got past the tough tackling Rakinderjit Singh to push to Beto and the Brazilian midfielder immediately spotted the gap created by the diagonal run of Joaquim Abranches to find Ranty in space on the left, inside the box, who intelligently lifted his left footer over the onrushing JCT keeper Karanjit Singh into the nylons.
The goal totally transformed Dempo’s approach as the visitors from Punjab had to back paddle most of the time in protecting their citadel from further damage as Beto and Joaquim Abranches all went close in adding to the tally. JCT, who were  at the receiving end never really troubled the Dempo defence but whenever their playmaker Orji Penn  snatched possession, the wily Nigerian appeared very deceptive and it was his theatrical dive in the added time of the first session that led to the equaliser. Letting himself run inside the box, for a through pass down the middle by Rakinderjit, the diminutive Orji induced a challenge from rival skipper Anthony Pereira, which was proper by all means, but as Orji fell in a heap to the ground, the Delhi referee Mohd Kamil who was hopelessly out of position blew the whistle for infringement and pointed to the dreaded spot to the utter dismay of the Dempo bench. Winger Baljit Saini entrusted with the job made no mistake with the conversion even though the effort of the India player was anticipated correctly by Laxmikant Kattimani, the Dempo keeper was unable to put up the block.
After the change of ends Dempo chief coach Armando ringed out the changes with Clifford Miranda and Peter Carvalho coming in for Nicolau Borges and the injured Joaquim Abranches. The substitution added more teeth to the attack with Anthony Pereira always a real danger for the JCT defence on the left flank. Dempo were increasingly getting closer as Beto failed not only once but twice to get his shot on target but the Brazilian almost got the breakthrough in the 74th minute with a long range curler which was destined for the far corner but JCT keeper Karanjt Singh  pulled off an amazing save by pushing the ball over the crosspiece. Dempo’s persistent effort finally paid dividends and although it came late in the match it’s was more than deserving as the local side was far more superior than their rivals.
With Dempo attacking all out, Clifford Miranda found stopper Anwar Ali in a nice position wide on the left flank from where the former JCT man sent in a teasing cross, which eluded the entire rival defenders and as Beto missed out, Ranty Martins quickly came in at the far post to knock the ball into the net from a yard out and with just seven minutes remaining it was a killer blow for the mill men from Phagwara. Ranty Martins was deservedly adjudged the man
of the match.