League

Ogbe Stadium
Spectators: 8463 (Terracing: 6348, Seating: 1946, VIP seats: 169) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Henry Gana took the kick off in the first half of the match. Osita Amu scored 0-1 in the 3rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Bola Akinyele, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ogochukwu Esin got free with Otitodilichukwu Echiegu in the 7th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ogochukwu Esin in the 10th minute of play forced Rawtenstall's goalkeeper Otitodilichukwu Echiegu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ekwueme Olaniyi could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 12th minute of the match, but Otitodilichukwu Echiegu made a huge save. In the 14th minute, Ekwueme Olaniyi got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Dammy Okunowo's late challenge caught a Desto's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dammy Okunowo helped the player get up and apologised. After 15 played minutes Rawtenstall got a freekick which was hit by Dammy Okunowo. Mojolaoluwa Abugu shot from long distance after 16 played minutes, a shot that Otitodilichukwu Echiegu with certain difficulty stopped from going in under the crossbar. Osita Amu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Bola Akinyele tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 21st minute Rapuokwu Ijemere shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bola Akinyele saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 22 minutes, Rapuokwu Ijemere managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rawtenstall's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rapuokwu Ijemere was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 25th minute, Dammy Okunowo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Rawtenstall booed when Desto was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ogochukwu Esin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bola Akinyele showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dammy Okunowo, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. Henry Gana received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Otitodilichukwu Echiegu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ogochukwu Esin's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 31stth minute, Otitodilichukwu Echiegu skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. If Ogochukwu Esin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Rawtenstall's Otitodilichukwu Echiegu got control of the ball when Henry Gana tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Rapuokwu Ijemere fell near the penalty area in the 42nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rawtenstall's protests and gave Rapuokwu Ijemere a yellow card for diving instead. In the 42nd minute, Rapuokwu Ijemere hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ogochukwu Esin could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 45th minute of the match, but Otitodilichukwu Echiegu made a huge save. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Osita Amu was the one to do the kick off. Desto's Bola Akinyele played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Osita Amu in the 52nd minute of play. 59 minutes into the game, Desto's Ekwueme Olaniyi nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Otitodilichukwu Echiegu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Osita Amu in the 67th minute of play forced Desto's goalkeeper Bola Akinyele to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 68 minutes into the game, Rapuokwu Ijemere recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Bola Akinyele. Rapuokwu Ijemere showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ekwueme Olaniyi during the 71st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Desto's Bola Akinyele played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Osita Amu in the 82nd minute of play. In the 84th minute, Ogochukwu Esin got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Thanks to some nice moves Rapuokwu Ijemere could shoot a difficult shot in the 87th minute, which Bola Akinyele however easily saved by the left post. Bola Akinyele made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Rapuokwu Ijemere sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Henry Gana in the 94th minute of play forced Rawtenstall's goalkeeper Otitodilichukwu Echiegu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Otitodilichukwu Echiegu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Henry Gana in the 96th minute of play. The Rawtenstall supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Rawtenstall would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.