Gombe United began life again in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) hosting Shooting Stars on MatchDay 1 of the 2021/2022 season.
The hosts were clearly the better side from the start of the fixture which kicked off at 3:30 pm due to the December solstice of a shorter day in the Northeast town of Gombe.
The visitors have their goalkeeper, Dede Dare to thank for severally thwarting near goal efforts of their opponents. Samuel Oyedeji of Gombe was the first player to test the goalie from the edge of the box and he did well with a dive just four minutes into the game.
Then, Ibrahim Yahaya who would be lively all through the game came close twice with Dare denying him with fine stops. Yahaya had agonisingly watched his other attempt come off Dare’s left post from close range.
The visitors failed to produce a single attempt on goal but managed two attempts off target from Sochima Elum and Akilu Muhammed during the first half.
Even with the beautiful display by Dare who perfectly guarded his post against the Savannah Scorpions firepower, the Ibadan based club Coach, Edith Agoye came off with a strange substitution at the break as he replaced the keeper with former Nigeria U-17 shot stopper, Okanlawon Laide.
The visitors would still put up a brilliant defensive display after going down to 10 men following Henry Ndedi’s second bookable offence late on. Isiyaka Mutiu, Omololu Waheed and Olatunji Damilare were at their best to contain most of the hosts’ fine runs in their half as they limited Gombe United’s attempt on goal to just one against six in the first half.
Okanlawon stood firm to produce a masterclass stop of a strike from Kelechi Chimezie just one minute left in the additional time to earn his side an important point on the road.
Gombe United will keep a date with Nasarawa United in Lafia while Shooting Stars Sports Club will entertain champions, Akwa United on Matchday 2 on Boxing day.
STATISTICS
Attempts off target 4-2
On target 7-0
Save 0-7
Corner 6-0
Foul 12-13
Offside 0-1
Yellow Card 0-4
Red Card 0-1
