Crown FC hosted Tradesafe Sport in their penultimate home game of the season at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan and the Ajilete Warriors, who are still very much in the chase for a promotion playoff spot welcomed the relegation battlers in a week 17 encounter, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Knowing that a win would possibly guarantee a place in the top two at least for the match day, the coach Raheem Tajudeen led side went out all blazing from the get go.
Tradesafe Sport, who started the week at the foot of the table with eight points adrift of the last safety spot proved impermeable in the opening exchanges.
However, following series of attacking moves into the opposition territory, the hosts were duly rewarded midway through the first half.
Ogwuche Mathias, who has been unlucky until that moment intercepted an intended clearance by an opposition defender to guard the ball into the back of the net.
It proved to be the Benue born striker’s first goal of the league season following his arrival in the second phase of the campaign.
The win, coupled with Inter Lagos’ derby loss to Ikorodu City sees the Ogbomoso based side return to second on the log with 27 points, three behind leaders Ikorodu City with three games left to play.
Tradesafe Sport were left ruing their chances as they continue to languish in relegation waters.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola