A 23rd minute strike by Nelson Abiam, was all Nasarawa United of Lafia needed to beat Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Saturday at the New Jos Stadium, Jos.
The NPFL Matchday 16 encounter saw the two battling grits for grits but the host emerged the luckier side courtesy of Abiam’s goal.
Needing the maximum points to keep the hope of surviving the drop alive, the Solid Miners made early onslaught on the Ibadan soccer lords, who were unbeaten in their last five games, prior to Saturday’s clash.
Shooting Stars’ defenders were up to the task as they waded off the homers’s early raid, with goalkeeper Okemute Odah, producing a man of the match performance.
However, a slight mix up at the rear, eventually allowed Abiam to hit the target, in what would become the only goal of the encounter.
The Ibadan soccer lords fought back after conceding the goal, making forays into the opponent’s goal area.
Shooting Stars would feel cheated midway into the first half when a goal bound Gali Falke was brought down in the box, but the referee did not show any interest in the incident
With the first half ending 1-0 in Nasarawa United’s favour, both sides came into the second half zealously looking for foe goal.
Coach Gbenga Ogunbote’s ‘introduction of Ayo Adejubu, Samuel Ayanrinde, Damala Promise and Anthony Okachi added bite to the 3SC attack but the Oluyole Warriors were not lucky enough to find the back of the net till the end of the match.