JCT put up an improved performance to score a solitary goal win over Fransa Pax Sports Club and register their first victory at the end of the third round of the ninth National Football League at the Nehru stadium in Margao on Tuesday.

Fransa failed to put up the same performance which they had displayed against East Bengal. Although they had the ball possession, they lacked the firepower to strike with Joseph Ogor being off colour.

The defence also did not look solid in the absence of Luis Aniweta and JCT, who showed the zeal to stay, broke the deadlock in the 70th minute.

Rampal from the middle initiated the move released the ball to Baldip Singh who outwitted two rival defenders before despatching an angular shot to beat keeper Kalyan Chubey to find the net. Baldip was latter adjudged man-of-the-match.

The match was confined to midfield initially and both of them tried long shots to test each other strength.

Fransa, who had the upper hand, put a sustained pressure and managed to score four minutes before the interval but Sebastian Endro, who scored off Jules Dias' pass, was pulled off-side by referee K Sankar.

Following the win, JCT collected three points while Fransa Pax remained on four points.