Kalyani, 14 Feb 2020 : Mohun Bagan thrashed Neroca FC 6-2 on Friday at Kalyani Municipality Stadium and maintain the healthy gap at the top of the table. Fran Gonzalez orchestrated the drubbing with a first half hat-trick which helped in securing the three vital points for the Mariners.
Mohun Bagan started the proceedings brightly right from the beginning. As a result, within the 1st quarter of the match home side took 2-0 lead, Fran Gonzalez and Fran Morante both scored from Joseba Beitia’s curling corners. Fran Gonzalez nodded home from an inch perfect delivery of Joseba Beitia to score his second. Fran Gonzales denied hat-trick when NEROCA FC custodian saved his weak spot-kick. But relentless attack made sure Mariners get their 4th goal when Papa Babacar Diawara and Suhair VP combined well and former scored his first from close range after receiving a delightful final pass from Suhair VP. Neroca pulled one back when powerful shot from Philip Adjah beat Sankar Roy at the near post. Mariners replied immediately and Beitia provided another telling center which find Fran Gonzalez inside the box and he did not make any mistake to place it home to complete his hattrick. At the stroke of halftime NEROCA FC scored another one when Pritam SIngh beat mohun Bagan defenders with a darting run and laid off a final pass for Subhash Singh who calmly placed it to the empty net. At lemon break Mariners lead by 5-2 margin.

NEROCA FC came all guns blazing at the start of second half . Dhanachandra Singh received a marching order when he handled the ball and NEROCA FC awarded a spot-kick. Philip Adjah dragged the resultant spot-kick wide. Gaffer Kibu Vicuna brought in Romario Jesuraj and the super sub scored with his first touch of the game when he volleyed home from a Joseba Beitia corner. Baba Diawara missed a golden opportunity to increase the lead and the match ended in scoreline 6-2 in favor of the Mariners.
Fran Gonzalez adjudged Hero of the Match for his heroics. He is now leading the goal scoring chart of I League.