Sharks Swallow Shooting in Ibadan

The week 22 Premier League fixture kicked off on a frenetic note with the visitors showing greater poise and purpose but inspired goalkeeping by erstwhile Flying Eagles reserve Goalkeeper, Adekola Ige, coupled with some horrible shooting from the Sharks forward men led by sharp shooter, Charles Omokaro, ensured the first 45 minutes ended on a barren note.

3SC did not take Sharks' dominance lying down as they quickly took the initiative, pinning the Garden City side to their own half for long periods with the impressive Dele Ojo, peppering the Endurance Alaboru-led Sharks defence from the right flank. It was therefore no surprise when his right foot sizzler produced an acrobatic save from man-of-the-match John Lawrence in goal for Sharks, shortly before half time.

Sharks however the mental victors at the break but the team's Technical Adviser Shuaibu Amodu was livid with the antics of the Ibadan fans whom he said were trying to intimidate the match Referee.

''The referee must not allow himself to be pushed around by the fans. Like you can see they have ceaselessly contested his every call but I just wanted to believe he will perform better in the second half,'' Amodu said.

The former Super Eagles Manager was forced to eat his words as the Man in the black put up what many neutrals described as one of the most objective and fearless pieces of officiating ever witnessed in this year's Globacom Premier League. Sharks took the game by the scruff of it's neck barely 30 seconds into the restart. A quickly-taken short corner kick found Endurance Alaboru who danced past his marker before delivering an inch perfect cross for the unmarked Monday Inebia to nod home past the transfixed Kola Ige in goal for 3SC.

Shooting Stars, sensing their second League defeat, after the Julius Berger nightmare, knew they had to up the tempo as well as their creativity to rescue anything from the game. They threw everything at Sharks but the resolute Fishes of Prey refused to give in as they soaked in wave after wave of 3SC pressure to record a famous away victory over the out of sorts looking Ibadan warlords.

The biggest performer on the evening was however the man between the sticks for Sharks, John Lawrence, whose commanding five star showing may prove to be the deciding factor in Sharks' quest for a continental slot this season.

Shooting Stars Chairman, Elder Bode Oyewole felt his side were hard done by the match Referee whom he described as frighteningly biased. He was however shocked by the poor performance of his boys,

''My Boys simply did not play to their full potential and I am sure they will be disappointed by the way they played today(Saturday).Now they must put behind them this demoralising loss and forge ahead'' said the visibly stunned Oyewole.

The loss to Sharks forebodes perilous times for the Kafaru Alabi-led 3SC who only last week lost three-nil to Nassarawa United of Lafia but Amodu Shuaibu must surely get a reprieve from the ever restive Port Harcourt fans who will no doubt heave a sigh of relief after watching their darling side record their first away win this season. More importantly, Sharks are now 3rd on the log with 35 points from 21 matches and also a handsome goals difference of plus eleven.

''I will not say I am surprised at the result of this match''said a Media Chief, Cyril Dum Wite,'' Amodu Shuaibu has built a very compact unit with this squad and the confidence in the team can only soar after this win. Besides four wins on the trot, eleven goals scored and none conceded only speaks volumes of our ambition to sweep every opposition before us this season'' he said.

With the current devastating form being enjoyed by Sharks F.C. THEIR ECSTATIC FANS CAN ONLY SAY, “BRING ON DOLPHIN” AS F.A. Cup action resumes next week.

From Sammy Wejina