Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt found themselves for the first time this season outside of the bottom four after a 2-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United FC of Yenagoa in the early kick off of a Glo Premier League Match Day 28 double header at the Port Harcourt Civic Centre.
The game was disrupted by showers of rain almost from kick off as the heavens opened with a drizzle, but neither team let the rain deter them as each side set out determined to grab the curtain raiser
Careless ball handling by Bayelsa goalkeeper, Gideon Gambo, possibly occasioned by the rain in the 10th minute gifted the hosts’ Ebitimi Agogu who swiftly turned and finished smartly with his left foot from inside the six yard box.
Another howler by Gideon on the 42nd minute almost resulted in an own goal, as it became glaring that Dolphin’s corners always caused panic in their opponent’s goal area.
The first half ended with the hosts in front, as their visitors failed to muster a single shot on or off target. However, Bayelsa United came out more determined on resumption of play after substituting Chinedu John Paul with Timitimi Ineikade at the stroke of half time.
A few minutes later Tswanya Samuel let fly with their first attempt at goal in the game but Dolphins keeper Rotimi Sunday calmly saved it.
Thereafter it became a ding dong affair as both teams controlled play for periods of time and then relinquished it to their opponents who also controlled play for a period but with neither side able to produce a clear cut attempt at goal.
However, on the 75th minute, hard working Omo Johnson broke free in a quick Dolphins’ counter attack and picked out substitute Andon who did well under pressure to place a low shot past the groping hands of Gideon for the second goal of the match.
Bayelsa United tried to force themselves back into the game, but Dolphin’s coach, Stanley Eguma, brought in central defender, Onyekachi Akakem, in place of Omo Johnson in an attempt to ‘park the bus’ and this worked effectively and the game ended 2-0 in favour of Dolphins FC who moved to the 17th position while their opponents remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
