Nasarawa United continued with their relentless effort to beat the drop zone with a deserved 1-0 victory over the hard-fighting visiting Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan at the New Jos Stadium on Saturday evening.
The right full-back, Nelson Abiam, scored the only goal of the evening in the 22nd minute.
Saturday’s result temporarily lifted United to 8th position, after playing a game more than the Harmony Boys who will be hosting Plateau United at their make-shift Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State, on blockbuster Sunday.
The Solid Miners will play their last away match of the season against Kwara in Akure in a week’s time, before ending the season with a home game against Bendel Insurance, a week later.
According to Coach Abubakar Arikya (NAS): “It was a very difficult match for us today, but we thank God for giving us victory.
“Shooting is a very good side and they proved it on the field, but we got the better side of the bargain.
“We will continue to plead with our supporters and fans to continue to rally around us to stabilize in the league.
“We have two matches left, we will approach each game as it comes, and hopefully, we shall overcome the hurdles.”
Coach Gbenga Ogunbote(SHO): “I think it was a bad one for us.
“We wasted some beautiful chances.
“Forget about the position Nasarawa United presently occupy, they are a very good side. Unfortunately, this is part of the game.
“We will switch focus to another away game, and shall see what we can get out of it.”
NELSON ABIAM(SCORER/NAS): “I feel so excited to have opened my goal account for Nasarawa United since I joined them during the half-season break.
“This is so special to me and the team because it was the winning goal for us.
“I got an instruction from our Technical Crew to go to the last side of the post, and I obeyed it, and fortunately, the ball from a corner kick met me after a goal-line scramble.
“You should expect more goals from me in the remaining games and others.”
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD): Douglas Achiv(SHO)3′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Ameh Godwin, Nelson Abiam, Manga Mohammed, Victor Collins, Suleiman Akoza, Ikenna Offor(Anas Yusuf 57′), Chidera Nduka, Ayuba Francis(Ibe Agwu 85′), Chinedu Ohanachom(James Isaac 57′), Joshua John, King Osanga(Aliyu Abdullahi 57′).
UNUSED SUBS: Mohammed Galadima, Abubakar Abdullahi, Dauda Maigishiri, Emmanuel Ogbole, Emeka Onyema.
