Alvito D'Cunha scored a first half brace as defending champions East Bengal beat Churchill Brothers 2-0 in a ninth National Football League match in Kolkata on Friday.

The victory took the Kolkata side to the top of the NFL table.

East Bengal called the shots right through the first session and forged ahead in the 18th minute before adding an insurance goal a minute before the breather to take their points tally to 36 after 17 rounds.

East Bengal are now a point ahead of nearest rivals Dempo of Goa [Images].

Churchill Brothers, who are struggling to save relegation, remained on 17 from the same number of outings.

Alvito, who worked untiringly to keep the East Bengal upfront moving, fired the first salvo in the floodlit match with a right-footed side volley after Baichung Bhutia headed down inside the box a Sasthi Duley floater.

East Bengal, who conducted a series of raids on the opponent's citadel from the outset, made the scoreline 2-0 when Alvito capped a fine solo with a diagonal shot that rocketed into the net, with Churchill goalkeeper Alemao out of position.

Churchill tried to stage a comeback in the second half, but failed to change the scoreline.