Home grown stars Ubong Ekpai and Friday Ubong scored as Akwa United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 triumph over FC IfeanyiUbah in Uyo on Sunday.
Ekpai headed home an Emeka Isaac cross on 11 minutes to end the hosts' run of 280minutes without a goal in the league before Ukeme Davies selflessly set-up Friday Ubong with his team's second in first half stoppage time.
United went into the game on the back of three successive losses which had seen head coach Maurice Cooreman suspended and his assistant Daboere Dokubo given a 3-game ultimatum while placed on temporary charge.
Dokubo rang the changes after a deflating loss at MFM on Match Day 14 and was boosted by the return of one of his team's topscorer this term, Friday Ubong from illness. The visitors on the other hand also had National Under-23 winger, Bright Onyedikachi back in the starting lineup after he missed their goalless outing with Abia Warriors last time out.
The visitors were presented with an early chance after a mistake at the Akwa rear but captain Chibuzor Okonkwo's freekick ricocheted off the defensive wall to safety. The visitors continued to threaten but were found wanting at the first time of asking.
The hosts made a spell of possession count after ten minutes on the clock when Ubong Ekpai ghosted behind the IfeanyiUbah defence to head Emeka Isaac's cross beyond the hapless Uche Okafor.
The goal elicited a brave response from the visitors who had score of their fans who made trip from Nnewi in full voice during the opening period. They were however denied on two occasions, not by the United defence, but the woodwork.
First, Jimoh Oni's header from six yards out came off the foot of the left woodwork with goalkeeper Bassey Akpan well beaten before Bright Onyedikachi's left-footed effort from 20 yards also hit the same side of the post.
Akwa United thereafter secured an insurance goal In first half stoppage time when a counter-attack saw Ukeme Davies and Friday Ubong in a 2-against-one situation, the former simply squared for the latter who kept his cool and finished from four yards.
That turned out to the the final goal of the game despite IfeanyiUbah's spirited effort in the second stanza. Bright Onyedikachi remained a constant threat to the United's defence all day as IfeanyiUbah thoroughly dominated proceedings in the second half but they were ultimately reduced to long range efforts.
Match details
Akwa United: 18. Bassey Akpan 16. Otobong Effiong 33. Samuel Okon 2. Idio Ubong 35. Godspower Igudia 11. Harrison Ibukun 7. Friday Ubong 14. Ubong Ekpai 24. Ukeme Davies (Franklyn Ekong 90') 4. Emeka Isaac (Ini Akpan 85') 3. Chigozie Chilekwu (Cyril Olisema 64')
Unused subs: 30. Olufemi Kayode 15. Emmanuel Ariwa 10. Aniekan Ekpe 12. Michael Abasiama
BOOKED: Ottobong Effiong 24'
GOALS: Ubong Ekpai 11', Friday Ubong 45'
FC Ifeanyiubah: 12. Uche Okafor 23. Ikechukwu Mbonu 30. Elu Wilson 34. Ngoma Luamba 20. Chibuzor Okonkwo 32. Cyril Edum (Onyekachi Akakem 58') 19. Jimoh Oni (Tamen Medrano 73') 6. Henry Okebugwu 26. Seka Pascal 7. Okereke Maduabuchi (Cisse Mahamane 66') 11. Bright Onyedikachi
Unused subs: 22. Olaide Okanlanwon 27. Alberico Da Silva 9. Koffi Nti 18. Suleiman Mohammed
BOOKED: Okereke Maduabuchi 37'
Man of the Match: Ibukun Harrison (Akwa United)
By Fisayo Dairo
