After being relegated from National Football League few months back and losing the home league champion status to MEG last week, local giants Hindustan Aeronautic Sports Club received yet another jolt as they failed to clinch even the second spot in the Bangalore Super Division.

The confirmation came on Tuesday as HASC failed to score and eventually shared points with Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). They now stand just two points ahead of CIL in the third spot.

With 13 points and two more matches in their hands, the green brigade still need a point to remain in their present position as CIL have 11 points in their kitty with one match to go. Needing an outright win  to stay in contention for the runner-up position, HASC dominated both sessions but the all-important goal eluded them.

Though HASC threatened the rival defence consistently, fortune hardly favoured the brave this time around as captain Xavier Vijayakumar’s header hit the woodwork in the very first minute and Karuna’s brilliant lob in the 15th minute met the same fate.

The first-half was mostly played in the ADE half when majority of their players, even strikers, fell back to join hands with the struggling defenders to face the heavy Aircraft onslaught.

Xavier created opportunities repeatedly while Kuttimani, Karuna and Karthigeyan joined him but all faltered with the finishing skill.

ADE goalkeeper Dilip produced at least two brilliant saves — first collecting a fierce strike by Karthigeyan in the 32nd minute and later tipping away a fiery long ranger by Murali in the 49th minute.

His counterpart under the bar, Gumpe Rime, was hardly put under any serious threat as the ADE forwards simply lacked the ammunition to dismantle a solid HASC defence comprising two Nigerian imports, Femi and Alesh.

With four points, ADE are placed ninth on the league table.

They are just one point ahead of LRDE, with both having one more match on their hands.