St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale moved a step closer to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) football semi-finals after thrashing Tanzania’s Kilombero 5-0 at Jamhuri Stadium on Monday morning.The Kenyan champions came into the contest knowing there was little room for mistakes and wasted no time in putting their intentions on the table, with Conny Ayieko opening the floodgates.Beryl Akumu, Miriam Silali and Fleviah Khatenje added to Kilombero’s misery, with Ayieko sealing her complete her brace.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe win takes the KSSSA national champions to five points from three matches, leaving them in a strong position with one group match still to play as they chase a place in the last four.With only two teams guaranteed progression from the group after four days of action, St. Joseph’s have given themselves a healthy platform, and their goal difference could prove just as important as the points when the final calculations are made.Nyambatha Nyankila got the game underway, but it was the Kitale-based side that immediately seized control, with Silali coming close after beating her marker Faith Naitai, only for her effort to narrowly miss the target.##NAJAVA_MECA_6838486##The pressure continued in the third minute when Purity Nechesa won an aerial duel-and latched onto a high ball before directing it towards goal-only for Kilombero goalkeeper Jasmine Mpanda to react quickly and keep the effort out.For the opening five minutes, the Tanzanian defence was under siege, with Editah Mkalanga and her teammates forced into a series of desperate blocks.St. Joseph’s won a free-kick in a promising position, with the set piece finding Ayieko inside the box, where the forward showed remarkable composure to glide past her marker before finding herself one-on-one with Mpanda.The KSSSA national winner remained as calm as a cucumber, picking out the bottom left corner to send the ball into the net and trigger wild celebrations from the small Kenyan contingent in the stands and the technical bench.Millions collected from Green Legacy cup clash between Gor Mahia and FKFPL debutantsKilombero attempted to respond, but their attacks struggled to cross the halfway line.Nechesa and Valentine Alivitsa both came close to extending the lead, although their efforts drifted wide, before the second goal finally arrived in the 16th minute.Silali delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and Alivitsa rose highest to meet it, directing a powerful header past Mpanda.At 2-0, St. Joseph’s showed no appetite for taking their foot off the accelerator, with Silali and Fleviah Khatenje continuing to torment the Tanzanian backline.Kilombero survived another scare in the 18th minute when Mwanaidi Nzaka whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the left. Mpanda appeared to have the situation under control before the ball slipped loose in front of Alivitsa, but a retreating Kilombero defender showed impressive recovery pace to clear the danger.Sensing the danger, Kilombero coach Remigius Fellician made an early change, introducing Swamu Picologa for Mkalanga in an attempt to stem the Kenyan attacks.The change slowed the contest temporarily, turning the game into a scrappy midfield battle in which the ball spent more time in the air than on the grass.By the time the match crossed the half-hour mark, St. Joseph’s goalkeeper Violet Moraa had barely been called into action, with Kilombero failing to register a serious effort on target.The Kenyan side continued knocking on the door and came close to a third from a second successive corner in the 36th minute, but the Tanzanian defenders were more alert to clear their lines.With the first half ending 2-0, coach Francis Ojilo had every reason to be satisfied, although the task was far from complete.Kilombero made another change at the start of the second half, bringing on Caren Kanyopa for Warda Mbunga as they searched for a route back into the contest.The Tanzanians had little time to settle before St. Joseph’s resumed their assault.FEASSSA: Green Commandos star reveals how indiscipline nearly ended his football careerIn the 40th minute, a quick move from the back involving Khatenje and Silali almost produced a third, but Silali's effort lacked power to beat Mpanda.Alivitsa was involved again moments later after receiving another dangerous delivery, but she struck the ground while attempting to shoot, taking the sting out of the effort and leaving the St. Joseph’s bench frustrated.Nechesa then almost caught Mpanda off her line with a clever high ball in the 45th minute, prompting celebrations from the Kenyan fans before the goalkeeper recovered to punch the danger away.The third goal finally arrived in the 55th minute after a patient move that began from deep.Pearl Olesi collected the ball at the back before finding Silali, who had positioned herself inside the box. The forward, nicknamed Kante, controlled the ball calmly, turned away from her marker and unleashed a fierce effort into the centre of the net to make it 3-0.The fourth goal arrived in the 56th minute.Cameroon hundreds of millions richer after ending WAFCON final curse with big win over MalawiNechesa slipped a pass into Khatenje inside the box, and the winger took a composed touch before calmly firing past Mpanda to put the result beyond doubt.The fifth followed moments later, with Ayieko completing her brace after receiving the ball inside the box, dribbling past two defenders and then rounding the goalkeeper before finishing from close range.At 5-0, the game had effectively slipped beyond Kilombero's reach.With the job done, Ojilo withdrew Silali and Ayieko, bringing on Ivy Atieno and Nelly Njeri as he looked to manage his squad while keeping the attacking momentum alive.The changes did little to take the sting out of the Kenyan champions, who continued searching for more goals knowing that goal difference could prove decisive in the race for the semi-finals.It was not until the 68th minute that Moraa was seriously tested, underlining just how one-sided the contest had been.Kilombero pushed more bodies forward in the closing stages in search of a consolation goal, but the Kenyan defence held firm and ensured the clean sheet remained intact.Mombasa United boss outlines top-flight ambitions amid promotion disputeWhen the final whistle arrived, the St. Joseph’s bench erupted in celebration alongside the handful of supporters who had made the journey from Trans Nzoia, with the 5-0 victory putting the Kenyan champions firmly in the knockout conversation.With five points from three matches and one group game remaining, St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale now have the chance to finish the job and book their place in the FEASSSA semi-finals.