Coca Cola-Churchill Brothers warded off a second half challenge to down Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal and move to second place in the eighth National Football League.

At the Nehru Stadium, in Goa on Tuesday, Churchill, who started on a promising note, probing the rival half with steady flow of passes and after missing couple of chances, scored the all-important goal in injury time of the first half.

Consistent scorer Yusif Yakubu played in tandem with John Kingley to trouble the rival defence as he raced down the left flank and after beating as couple of defenders relayed the ball to Francis Afonso, who tapped the ball into the net to give Churchill their fourth win.

Bagan's inconsistent form continued as their midfield failed to function, and with Barreto tightly marked, their attack lacked the sting upfront in the first half. But the change of ends saw Bagan raise the level of their game several notches as they pressed hard in the last 20 minutes in search of the equaliser.

Barreto, who was tightly marked, produced his magical spell as he got the better of rival two defenders and sent a cross from the right for Hardeep Gill,whose header was smartly over by 'keeper Mark Mascarenhas.

A few minutes later, defender Churchill Osumanu Husseini made a goal line save off Ashim Biswas's shot after he was fed by Saini.

Churchill, who played eight matches, have 14 points, are in second place behind leaders Dempo, who have 17 points from seven matches.

Bagan, who suffered their third defeat, have 11 points.

Bagan had the first chance to take the lead but Biswas shot out on the run from a Barreto through in the 17th minute.

Two minutes later, Churchill made a counter move and Francis Afonso missed an open chance as he shot out off a pass from Somatai Shaiza.

Bagan suffered a jolt when their reliable keeper Prasanta Dora got injured after clashing with Shaiza and was taken on a stretcher to hospital.

Arindam Ghosh, who replaced him, did well under the bar as he saved a hot-blooded shot from Yakubu.

Churchill came close to scoring twice but first Harvinder Singh shot straight to 'keeper Ghosh and later John Kingley missed an open chance as he shot out from inside the box.

After the change of ends, Churchill held on the advantage and nearly increased the lead but Kingley's shot was saved on the goal line by Harpreet Singh. Thereafter, Yakubu missed an open chance as he headed out off a cross from Kingley.

Bagan regrouped midway through the second half and came up with counter moves as they unsettled the rival defence with Barreto and Biswas making frantic efforts to restore parity. But the Churchill defence held on gamely to thwart Biswas, Saini and Hardeep Gill.