NPA 2-1 Gabros

Gabriel Agu put the home side ahead from the spot on 38th minute after the visitors missed a host of first-half opportunities.

Bizarrely the visitors thought they had gotten their deserved equaliser, in the 55th minute, after a clinical build up from the left, left Eleta the simply task of tapping into an empty net.

But the assistant referee, who was clearly following a written script, flagged for an offside to the fury of Gabros coach, Godfrey Esu.

And substitute Egwuatu Collins then raced clear to lash home another brilliant build-up to leave score at 1-1, with thirteen minutes left.

NPA searched fruitlessly for the winner but the visitors put up a decent resistant, though it was not for long.

And three minutes into injury time, substitute Gbemi Akinrolabu broke the hearts of the brave Gabros side lashing low past Udo Ochogu.

As expected, a furious Gabros coach, Godfrey Esu slammed the officiating.

“We played good football, scored a brilliant goal but the referee felt otherwise.

“This is bad for football in the country. That’s why we always lagged behind in everything,” Esu told Nigeriasports.com after the game.

His opposite, Belgian Maurice Cooreman was satisfied with the home win.

“We may have left it a bit late, but we truly deserve our victory against this decent side. To be honest they didn’t play like they are bottom of the table,” Cooreman concluded.