The Solid Miners had everything working for them from the blast of the whistle on blockbuster Sunday’s North-Central Derby clash against border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC, at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, Benue State, but failed to take advantage of the avalanche of chances that came their way in the first forty-five minutes.
Sunday Okereke manoeuvred his way through the tight defence before releasing a blistering shot which nearly skipped the grasp of goalkeeper, Aliko Mustapha, in goal for Lobi Stars in the sixth minute.
Lobi immediately responded through Chukwuka Onuoha but his shot got blocked by the stiff United’s back line.
Sa’id Mubarak caused some scare for the visitors with two consecutive attempts on goal which forced United to quickly restrategise as they headed toward the Lobi danger territory – Ini Edem outran his marker before sending in a diagonal cross into the path of Ohanachom only for the home side’s goalkeeper to react quickly, denying the lanky attacker from tapping in from close range.
Ikenna Offor almost tried from range but his effort went haywire.
As the energy-sapping half edged toward the break, Okereke thought he had put the away side ahead only for Moses Tsehuan, a former defender of Nasarawa United, to put his body on the line, preventing the ball from finding the back of the net.
Against the run of play, it was the home side who went ahead five minutes into the restart courtesy of Ifeanyi Ogba as he was teed up by menacing midfielder, Chukwuka Onuoha.
From then on, Lobi Stars held possession, piling pressure on the United’s territory.
The Solid Miners, nevertheless, contained the situation, Ikenna Offor flashing the ball inches wide after a beautiful dummy from Michael Tochukwu.
With a quarter of an hour more to play, Coach Bala Nikyu, in search of an equaliser, introduced Shammasu Mohammed and Adamu Hassan in place of King Osanga and Sunday Okereke.
Hardly had the duo settled than the first opportunity would come their way. They combined excellently to free the advancing Ini Edem but the latter’s cross into the penalty area ended up in the hands of the Goalkeeper, Aliko Mustapha, to the frustration of the travelling team.
Lobi earned a free-kick and instantly took it at the time United were still organizing their wall, and scoring their second goal of the evening in the process, with the away team questioning why the goal should be awarded to the home side, but the referee would not listen to any of their complaints.
United would go on to reduce the deficit inside four minutes of additional time after Adamu Hassan was brought down inside the box. Michael Tochukwu confidently slotted home from twelve yards, his seventh goal of the campaign.
2-1 was the full-time score as the Solid Miners continue to search for their first away victory of this season.
Despite the result, the Lafia-based side remain static on the league table on 13th position with 32 points while Lobi leapfrog from the drop zone to 16th position.
Nasarawa United will next host Plateau United during the weekend in another North-Central Derby Game.
POST-MATCH REACTIONS
Coach Bala Nikyu : “Defeat is part of the game even though we are pained to have lost today’s encounter despite playing better.
“However, that won’t deter us as we will continue to work hard to stabilise our place in the League.”
