A 40th minute goal by Abia Warriors hitman, Sunday Megwo, was all that Umu Chineke needed to defeat Bendel Insurance 1-0 and get their first away win in the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League season.
It was a superlative display from the Warriors to ensure a well deserved victory and condemn the Benin Arsenals to their first home loss this campaign.
Abia Warriors gaffer, Imama Amapakabo made only one change to the side that defeated Plateau United 3-1in Umuahia, with Wilson Elu taking the place of Emmanuel Ogbuagu who couldn’t make the trip owing to illness.
The game commenced on a cagey affair as both sides cancelled out each other. There was no margin for error as the encounter was highly tactical.
Nonetheless, as proceedings continue to progress, the Warriors gradually started to look dangerous in attack, as the trio of Paul Sampson, Sunday Megwo and Daniel Ekpo began to impose themselves.
And it was not surprising to see them take the lead in the 40th minute, when Sunday Megwo demonstrated his predatory trait to give Umu Chineke the lead.
After receiving the ball in the centre circle, Innocent Godwin laid a simple pass to Paul Sampson, who skipped past his marker to cross the ball into the box for the on-rushing Sunday Megwo to tap into the net, and silence the home crowd.
The first half ended 0-1 in favour of the visitors, and the second period started with the home side pushing for a goal.
At the other end, after just two minutes into the second half, the Warriors would have doubled their lead.
After receiving the ball in the centre circle, Innocent Godwin laid a simple pass to Paul Sampson, who skipped past his marker to cross the ball into the box for the on-rushing Sunday Megwo to tap into the net, and silence the home crowd.
The first half ended 0-1 in favour of the visitors, and the second period started with the home side pushing for a goal.
At the other end, after just two minutes into the second half, the Warriors would have doubled their lead.
A delightful cross from Sunday Megwo picked out the unmarked Philip Ewuga inside the six yard box with the goalkeeper at his mercy, but he mis-cued to the consternation of the Warriors’ bench and relief for the home fans.
Having survived that scare, there was some urgency in the home side’s play, but the Warriors were having none of their schemes as they warded off any threat from the Benin Arsenals. Instead, it was Umu Chineke who would have scored again.
There was a good square play from Ewuga to locate Megwo inside the opponents box, and the striker took a first time shot that Insurance keeper, Joshua Baba parried for a corner kick to Abia Warriors.
Despite wholesale substitutions from both sides, there were no further goals scored as Umu Chineke held on to beat Bendel Insurance for the first time in three outings.