Coca-Cola Churchill Brothers held on to a first half strike by Yusif Yakibu to down Mahindra United 1-0 in the National Football League match at Margao on Saturday.

This was the Goan outfit's fifth win in the eighth edition of the National Football League which pushed them up to the fourth place in the points table.

Churchill, who dictated terms in the first half, played with varied pattern and with quick short passes followed by long cross passes that kept Mahindra defence on tenterhooks before Yakibu struck in the 12th minute.

Following a long lob from the centre circle by Noel Wilson into the box which caught the Mahindra defenders Covan Lawrence and Odartey Lawson napping, Yakubu, who had followed the ball's trajectory, got into a fine position and headed in past the advancing goalkeeper Kalyan Chubey.

Mahindra, coached by Englishman David Booth, were let down by their midfield which fared badly in the first half. The visitors failed to make any impact on the rival defence but the change of ends saw them playing with more purpose and urgency as they dominated the second half with steady flow of passes but failed to find the elusive equaliser as the rival defence led by Osumanu Husseini and goal keeper Mark Mascarenhas denied them the goal.

Mascarenhas made a diving save to put the ball out of danger after Khalid Jamil's stiff grounder deflected defender Osumanu's leg and was going in.

Churchill, who have played one match less have collected 17 points from nine matches to move to fourth place while Mahindras suffered their fourth defeat and remained on 16 points from ten matches.