Nembe get third win of season

Nembe City made it three home wins on the bounce after a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win over 2011 champions Dolphins in a rain-soaked encounter in Omoku.

Striker Musa Newman scored the game's decisive goal in the 18th minute to further advance Nembe's quest to move off the foot of the table.

The hosts received a major boost ahead of this Week 15 encounter after the return to fitness of captain Kola Awe. Awe has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for two weeks and he was named in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Inebia Efebor.

For the visitors, Victor Ezuruike was restored to the starting XI after being dropped for the last two games with Emeka Atuloma dropping to the bench.

Both teams struggled to shake off the lethargy occasioned by the downpour minutes before the game as they struggled to create openings between themselves. 

However, the Kala Ekulema Boys, as Nembe are fondly called by their followers, got a goal out of the blues in the 18th minute.

Tallest man in this Nembe side, Collins Koute did well to control a long thrust and sliced a pass through to Newman who dribbled his way past two Dolphins defenders before slotting past the on-rushing Sunday Rotimi.

It took Dolphins over 40 minutes to register a first shot on target which failed to trouble Ike Uche in goal for Nembe City. Nembe took the lead into the break.

On resumption of play after the half-time interval, Dolphins became expectedly hungrier but the hosts defence marshalled by Kola Awe and the irrepressible Samson Gbadebo stood their ground to ward off all incursions to their goal area.

And when Dolphins found some space in the box through Ezekiel Thompson, the striker who was making a rare appearance could only hit the side-netting with his effort. The hosts held on for their first ever competitive win over Dolphins.

Coach of Nembe City, Gabriel Samuel Umunna, in a chat with lmc-ng.org after the encounter praised his players for putting up a brave performance against a respected side like Dolphins.

"I want to salute my boys for their courage and determination in beating a team like Dolphins. We keep improving and we get another three points," said Umunna.

Up next for Nembe is a trip to Enyimba on Sunday.

Culled from LMC