Sanjeev Singh made all the difference on the day, scoring twice and creating other, as Army Green survived a late challenge from Karnataka State Police to emerge a 4-2 winner in the Tier I State Super Division hockey league at the KSHA stadium here on Monday.

KSP, who trailed 1-3 in the first half, reduced the margin through their skipper Laxman Rao N P in the 48th minute. It looked as if a match was on with the Policemen earned two penalty corners in the space of five minutes before Army Green’s defender S P Tirkey made a goalline save.

But all that effort went in vain as Umesh Mutegar, star of Sunday’s 5-1 defeat of HAL, loosed possession to Tirkey in a dangerous position when going for the counter. Tirkey’s cross from the left was fired to the right by Sanjeev in the 52nd minute after that Policemen looked out of sorts.

Earlier, Army Green took the lead in the fourth minute, well before the Policemen could settle down, Tirkey sounded board from an indirect penalty corner. Sanjeev swelled the lead with a powerful drive, seven minutes later, after a cross from the rightflank by Banti Singh.

Fifteen minutes later, Banti pounced on a rebound by KSP goalie Najumuddin after a deflection from Sanjeev. Ensuing centre-hit saw Policemen reducing the margin to 3-1 as Rao finding the back of the net. KSP’s fightback could not get momentum as poor defending and passing did them in.

Other result: ASC: 2 (MC Ganapathy 5th PC, Harpreet Singh 12th) drew Army Red: 2 (A Ekka 6th, Renel Singh K H 56th PC).