First Bank Upset Flamboyant Flaming At Onikan

A 75th minute strike from Alimi Sikiru ensured First Bank took all 3 points against an impressive Stationary Stores FC side in Nigerian National League match at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.
The Lagos derby saw the Flaming Flamingos dominate, create clear cut chances, win a deserved late penalty, But failed to do the most important thing in football, “Score a goal”.

Despite clearly dominating the first half, starting strikers
Fuad Ekelojuoti and Razak Balogun missed 4 clear cut chances to break the deadlock. However, First Bank Fc was equally guilty of missing chancing in the high octane first 45 minutes. The Elephant Boys had the easiest chance of the first half, when former MFM FC striker Ojukwu David’s brilliantly exchanged pass with Mustapha Ibrahim put him one on one with the keeper, only for his side footed shot to miss the goal by whiskers.

Team mate Mustapha himself also failed to hit the target after he brilliantly beat his marker in the 43rd minute but his swerved shot missed the far post.

With both teams drawing blanks at half time, Stores continued to enjoy much of the possession on resumption but didn’t create any real chance until the 61st minute when Fuad was brought down 30 yards from goal. The resultant free kick taken by Oyedele Adekunle brought out the best from goalkeeper Semiu Bello of First bank who parried the ball to safety. 7 minutes later, Ekelojuoti was hacked almost on the same spot and Oyedele once again tested the alert First Bank Keeper who gave up a cornerkick this time.

Razak Balogun should have put the home side ahead from the resultant corner after a defensive mix up put him clear on goal but failed to hit his shot on target. Hardworking Fuad Ekelojuoti came agonizingly close to sccoring this time in the 74th minute but his header grazed the top of the post.

Against the run of play Alimi found himself at the end of a nicely worked counterattacking move, and the striker buried his chance in the 75th minute, setting up a frantic atmosphere at the Onikan stadium with 15 minutes of regulation time to play.

Stationery Stores Fc Coach Loveday Omoruyi immediately reacted by bringing in 2 Attack minded Azeez Babalola and Obinna Emmanuel to push for a leveller. And Obinna Emmanuel immediately made instant impact by winning a free kick on the edge of the box. Azeez Babalola’s resultant free kick saw the wall deflect the ball away from goal which lead to a high boot tackle from First Bank’s Dapo Ayoola who brought down Fuad Ekelojuoti in the area, the referee duly awarded the penalty in the 81st minute.

Second half substitute Azeez Babalola stepped up to take the spot kick but Goalkeeper Semiu Bello guessed right and parried the tame kick when he dove to his left. The home fans grew quiet and the Stores couldn’t muscle for a goal and a solitary point in front of home fans after that miss which saw the Banker Boys held on for victory.

First Bank Coach …Oshun said “ I told my boys victory in today’s match was a mandate given by the club management and I am happy we got the result, because it puts us in good position to gain promotion to the premier league which is our main target”.

An embittered Stationary Stores coach Omoruyi blamed his player’s tactical indiscipline for the performance. “We had 2 of our best 5 penalty takers on the field, but none of them wanted to take the spot kick. Azeez was the only brave player on the pitch, who stood up to the challenge, but unfortunately he missed the penalty and we lost”

Team List

Stationery Stores

1- Emmanuel Adebayo
17- Lawal Michael
12- Egbufor Akachukwu
2- Ekang Patrick
35- Adeyemi Adefemi
4- Anifowose Kehinde
6- Oyedele Adekunle
16- Balogun Razak
19- Ekelojuoti Fuad
23- Azuka Fidelis
30- Okorie Onyemauche

Reserve
37- Okoro Anthony
26- Olatunde Nurudeen
33- Idris Ibrahim
11- Emmanuel Obinna
38- Shinsinma Ifeanyi
10- Eze Udochukwu
27- Babalola Azeez

First Bank

22- Semiu Bello
5-Olarenwaju Raheem
6-Dapo Ayoola
3- Bolu Sholumade
4- Abu Aliu
25- Kalu Daniel
15- Wasiu Alalade
16-Alimi Sikiru
11- Daivid Ojukwu
12- Omoyegun Nuru
20- Mustapha Ibrahim

Reserve.
1- Shakiru Lawal
26- Alaba Balogun
9- Saka Taofeek
24- Amao Rahmon
17- Evans Nwachukwu
10- Jide Apewa
14- Christian Olong.