Enyimba International are steadily staking a claim to the 2014/15 Glo Premier League title race, which a couple of weeks back looked like it would go down the wire.
But not so for the struggles to beat the relegation as the swing continues and teams swap positions after each match day.
This sums up the outlook after Match Day 31 fixtures were decided between Friday night and Sunday evening across 10 centres.
All of the drama began 7pm on Friday Night as Akwa United hosted the League’s first ever Friday night football.
The Promise Keepers knew a defeat against record breaking Nasarawa United would send them down and they turned up with a big performance, with Aniekpeno Udoh and Yusuf Adio helping them to a 2-0 victory on the night.
League leaders, Enyimba, effortlessly eased past Wikki Tourists in one of the star games of the weekend to consolidate their lead on top of the Premier League table.
Skipper Chinedu Udoji got his first and second league goals for Enyimba, one in each half, sending his side five points clear at the summit of the table.
Close on their heels are Sunshine Stars, who got a narrow 1-0 win over Abia Warriors.
Tunde Adeniji’s 14th goal of the campaign enabled the Akure Gunners to leapfrog Warri Wolves, who were in second going into the weekend, thus swapping places with them.
But it was not a bad weekend for Wolves themselves as they clawed a point off defending champions, Kano Pillars, with Ikechukwu Ibenegbu firing home an equalizer in the closing moments to ensure both teams got a goal and a point apiece.
The match day’s star game was the Port Harcourt derby that swung in favour of hosts, Sharks FC.
Super Eagles defender, Chima Akas, got the all important goal that secured the vital points and sent Dolphins back into the relegation mire on 17th position.
They were 15th at the start of the weekend.
Resilient Shooting Stars got a vital point in Makurdi in a game that saw defences come tops as both teams played out a goalless draw.
There was also a draw in Jalingo as Agali Emmanuel got El Kanemi Warriors back on level terms after FC Taraba had taken a lead in the first period.
The fourth draw of the weekend would however come at Nnewi where 10-man Giwa FC drew level in the closing moments of the game after Chris Madaki had seen red early in the second period.
David Sunday scored the late equalizer to ensure back to back draws at home for the Anambra State side, who at the start of the campaign seemed invincible at home.
Relegation troubled Kwara United came close to upsetting the cart when they took a first half lead at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, but two quick goals in four second half minutes from the Flying Antelopes turned things around to leave the Harmony Warriors transfixed at 18th position.
Segun Alebiosu scored for Kwara United in their first and only attempt at goal after 44 minutes, but that was cancelled out by Egbuchulam Chisom on 52nd and Bobby Clement on 46th, with Osas Okoro being the provider of both goals.
For Bayelsa United, they will have to play their game against Heartland on Monday as the rains caused the game to be postponed.
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