Army Red paid dearly for their costly misses and went down 0-1 to a 39th-minute deflection from Tyron Pereira as Indian Oil Corporation Limited notched up their sixth straight win in the Tier I Synergy Sports State Super Division hockey league at the KSHA here on Wednesday.

It was Army Red all the way in the first half but  they couldn’t score. Sunil Ekka hit wide with only IOCL custodian Baljit Singh in front of goal in the fifth minute after a cross from the rightflank by Sunil S V.

Three minutes on, Sunil was at the receiving end when he placed the ball wide before a deflection from Eliazer Lakra took the post and an attempted scoop went over the cross piece. IOCL played with purpose in the second half and were richly rewarded after Pereira deflected in a left wing pass from Deedar Singh.

Army Red answered with Ajit Kumar Mahji and Chittaranjan Singh, effecting saves from Baljit. The frustration soon got up with Army Red’s Gurjinder Singh. The defender pushed IOCL’s Yudhavir when the latter going for the ball accidently collided with Gurjinder. But soon the umpires intervened to put the situation under control. However, both players escaped without any card.

IOCL now have 18 points from six matches and Army Red, with their first loss, tallied 11 points from as many matches. Other result: ASC: 0 drew with KSP: 0.