Riding on a late strike by Nigerian Oira Moses, Tollygunge Agragami edged past Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore, 3-2 in a National Football League match in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Moses scored a brace after Ashim Biswas gave the Kolkata side an early lead, while Ibrahim Karim Alhasan and Raghui Singh netted for ITI at the Salt Lake stadium.

The match, which never rose to great heights, was marked by frequent defensive lapses and poor goalkeeping by both the sides.

Tollygunge drew the first blood in the fifth minute when Biswas fired a 30-yarder from the middle that dipped into the net past a confused ITI custodian Gumpe Rime.

The initial lead, however, was shortlived as ITI restored parity in the 13th minute through Alhasan, who netted from close after Tollygunge keeper Arindam Ghosh failed to judge the flight of a Raghui Singh centre.

Two minutes later, the visitors scored their second goal to make the scoreline 2-1.

Singh, lurking inside the rival box, got a rebound of a Jude Nwadu shot and drove home with an angular right footer.

With the win, Tollygune improved their standing with 13 points from 11 matches while ITI remain at the bottom of the league table with 3 points from 11 outings.

Tollygunge, who pressed the attack button after conceding the lead, came close to scoring in the 30th minute but a Moses shot was saved by ITI stopper Roopesh on the goalline.

In the 42nd minute, Nigerian striker Akeem Abolonle failed to capitalise on a defensive lapse as he fumbled inside the box after getting a fine through pass, thus wasting yet another chance to equalise.

The local team restored parity in the 57th minute when Moses drove home a loose ball after Rime failed to grip a Akeem centre from the left.

With the match heading for a draw, ITI paid the price for a defensive lapse that left space for Moses to head home from a corner kick by Isiaka Awoami.