Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ABS Ilorin FC recorded yet another victory in the Matchday 10 of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL to maintain their hundred percent record at home with a 1-0 win over Wikki Tourists of Bauchi on Sunday.
The entertaining 10 encounter played at the Kwara Stadium, Ilorin saw Wikki showed real intense to take something from the game from on set.
Ezekiel combined well with Victor Alegbe after gaining a counter, the former's shot was blocked by Ernest Governor.
ABS keeper, Boje Abdullahi had to gather twice a shot from Bature Yaro in the 10th minute.
And the hosts' first attempt at goal came in the 11th minute when Samuel Oyedeji found Mohammed in the box, but Emeka Nwabulu took a timely interception to deny him the chance.
ABS got their goal in the 16th minutes when Mohammed got the ball from Anaekwe Ebuka's throw in at the edge of Wikki's box, the lanky frontman outmuscled two Wikki defenders before burying past outrushing Nwabulu.
The visitors showed good response to equalized in the 18th minutes when Festus Umanah's cross almost headed in by Abdullahi Musa.
Wikki stepped up the game with momentary dominance after the half an hour. Two successive set piece were given inside ABS' half, the second, taken by Harrison Madu was parried wide by Boje as Richard couldn't get the rebound well enough to level up for Wikki.
Both sides failed to convert the other numerous chances created till the end of first half.
It was ABS that first showed any real sign of scoring with Mohammed linking up well with Metu on the right and the goal scorer had his effort goes wide.
The game later became a one-sided affairs with only ABS doing the playing and dominating.
But the home side didn't had any chance of increasing the tally as Emeka Nwabulu in goal for Wikki stood between the boys of coach Henry Makinwa and their second goal with series of saves.
And the situation remained the same till the end of the entertaining encounter in Ilorin.
Coach of Wikki Tourists, Mohammed Baba Ganaru who expressed delight with his side's performance despite defeat noted that fatigue set in for players hence their woeful performance in the closing stage of the game just as he promised to address their shortcomings earlier before their next game against Rivers United.
"It was a good match, I think we played better in the first half, in the second we didn't showed more threat to our host, but I give kudos to the boys with how they played, for holding up till the end, and after making the changes I think we played a little better, both teams had their chances but I think ABS were the better side.
Every game is always serious and important for every club, we will return home quickly to prepare for Rivers United," Ganaru said.
Head Coach of the hosts, Henry Makinwa said his side were superb in the game, especially in the second half, but admitted that Wikki Tourists were a dangerous side who could have also snatched a point from his side.
"We are happy with the game, it's another full points for us, it could have been more goals, but we let up at times during the match, we could have lost, they could have won, but it's done deal with the win, against Rangers, we will hope to build in this to perform better," concludes Makinwa.
ABS FC have however garnered 17 points from nine game occupying third on the log while Wikki Tourists sits 17th in the NPFL log with 10 points from eight games.
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