Lobi stars move up to the sixth position after beating 3SC
Two former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players took charge of opposite dugouts as Lobi Stars hosted Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on Match Day 3 in Makurdi, Wednesday, December 29.
Former Sharks player, Eddy Dombraye was leading Lobi Stars on his third game in his nascent NPFL Managerial career while Edith Agoye was leading his former side from Ibadan.
Lobi Stars came from behind to claim its first victory this season after a 2-1 win over 3SC which also marked the first loss by the Oluyole Warriors after three games.
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Shooting Stars were relentless early in the game with coach Agoye adopting a loaded midfield and defensively cautious 5-4-1 formation with Odeyemi Ebenezer as the lone striker upfront.
In contrast, Dombraye opted for the 4-3-3 game plan with the wing backs supporting the attack from the flanks but were outnumbered and outclassed by the visitors in the middle of the pack where Kolawole Daniel, Akilu Mohammed and Ezeala Uche held sway.
Shooting Stars went ahead after 40 minutes when Joshua Akhabue failed to make a good clearance in the box putting the ball on the path of Akilu Mohammed who made no mistake in slotting the stray ball beyond Emeka Onyia.
Dombraye in the second half, made changes to add the needed impetus to Lobi Stars attack by bringing in the duo of Nasiru Momoh and Ganda Samuel which emboldened Adams Olamilekan to push forward from the right side.
This move paid off in the 61st minute as the wing back, Olamilekan effectively utilised Ifeanyi Ogba low cross to round up the 3SC defence and tuck the ball beyond the keeper for the equaliser.
Eleven minutes later, Adams was in the mix of happenings again as he raced to the touchline dribbling his way to supply a cross and finding Ogba in front of goal to score from close range for the winner.
Post match, Agoye attributed the loss to lack of experience on the part of the players.
“We had the opportunity to kill off the game with some chances that came our way but inexperience was our bane and we have learnt a big lesson in this game.”
Dombraye again expressed concerned that his squad seem to prefer to react to the opponents as has been seen in two previous games.
“This has been our major challenge, we always allow the opponents to dictate the pace while we come out forcefully in the second half. We have to work on our attitude and ensure that we start and end well”, Dombraye told www.npfl.ng
The victory moved Lobi Stars to sixth on the log with five points from three games and Shooting Stars on 17th position with two points.