Three key players -- Yamin Mia, Maksud Alam Habul and Mamunur Rahman Chayan -- had threatened not to play unless they received payment. But assurance from the club officials on the eve of the crucial league game convinced the trio to take their place in the Mohammedan eleven and sparkle in a first half show that was enough to bring them back in the title race.

Yamin said that he and his colleagues, who threatened to sit out, played because a high club official last night assured them off payment very soon. "We believe that this time, we will get our dues. To show respect to the club secretary's word, we decided to play," Yamin informed.

Taking full advantage of a miserable rival defence, Ariful Haque Prince fired twice and Shamim Reza added the other -- all in the first half -- as the black and whites broke the Abahani morale in an eventful match.

"We were determined to bounce back after the defeat to Mariners (2-1) and the team spirit helped us win today," told keeper and Mohammedan captain Mahbubullah Shakil.

Abahani, perhaps, suffered from complacency after a 7-0 thrashing of Mariners in their previous game and never found their attacking flair although they wasted a penalty stroke and saw Indian umpire Virender Singh rule out two goals.

Virender's weak officiating marred the clash of the titans and the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium turned into a battleground as the match was stopped for 35 minutes on the brink of the breather following the missiles hurled by the Abahani fans.

The match official signalled for a goal when Abahani's Indian forward Prakash Chalke pushed the ball home from a melee seconds before the short hooter but in the face of severe protest from Mohammedan players that got physical, he withdrew his decision.

Virender, who was pushed by Mohammedan's ill-tempered midfielder Imran Haider earlier, finally showed the Pakistani a yellow card but the same player escaped a possible send-off when he kicked out rival defender Issa Mia's stick out of the ground.

"The late first half goal could have worked as an inspiration for us but the umpire's decision to disallow Prakash's goal was really disappointing. But there is no excuse for playing bad," admitted Abahani coach Mahbub Harun.

"I had briefed them how Mohammedan would try to break on penalty corners and my players failed to apply themselves," the former national captain told referring to the brace by Prince.

Mohammedan scored from the first penalty corner after fifth minute when Chayan ran the ball to the right side of the Abahani box to set unmarked Prince who deflected home neatly.

Abahani had a golden chance to equalise when they earned a penalty stroke three minutes later after Yamin tripped Prakash inside the box. But Russell Mahmud Jimmy's hit came off the upright.

In the very next minute, Shamim Reza doubled the lead from a scramble while Mohammedan's third -- the second by national striker Prince from an 18-minute penalty corner -- was an action replay of the first as Abahani defenders once again failed to read the situation.

In spite of a dismal show, Abahani forced half a dozen penalty corners but Issa Mia struck high into the net while Jimmy hit the woodwork.

In the second half, Mohammedan went on the defensive as the sky-blues created a few openings but they went without scoring in a match for the first time this season.

Abahani, who failed to take revenge of their 2-1 defeat to Mohammedan in last month's Club Cup final, still maintained joint-lead with Usha Krira Chakra on 18 points from seven outings while Mohammedan moved to third place with 13 points from six matches.