For the first time in 12 matches, Heartland picked maximum points. But that was not enough to see them up from the base.
Returning to the top flight at the beginning of this season, the Naze Millionaires have Austin Osayande to thanks for his 51st goal against Bendel Insurance, which now place them level on points with 19th placed Bayelsa United. Both have 10 points, but the Yenagoa-based side have superior goal advantage and also have a match on hand.
Heartland’s opponents, Bendel Insurance lost ground as they descended to seventh place from sixth.
Remo Stars maintained top spot as they snatched a point at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna against hosts Niger Tornadoes. Both sides settled goalless – the second such outcome on this Matchday.
While the result kept the Sky Blue Stars at the summit, it ensured that Tornadoes gained two spots – from 18th to 16th.
The other goalless result was recorded at Ilorin where Kwara United hosted Doma United. It meant that the Gombe-based side slipped from second to third, while also dropped two places from their previous 11th.
Lobi Stars’ Chinedu Chukwu struck in the 25th minute to beat Gombe United and earn his side maximum points. The Makurdi side moved a step from third to second.
Kano Pillars pipped former champions Akwa United at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano with the lone goal of the encounter by Mustapha Umar in the sixth minute. Pillars are now fourth on the log, from seventh; while Akwa United dived deeper into the relegation zone as they are now 18th, instead of 17th.
Enyimba’s away game against Katsina United was rescheduled, and the People’s Elephants are now fifth on the table from fourth.
In sixth are Shooting Stars, who suffered lone goal defeat in Akure in the hands of Sunshine Stars, no thanks to a 72nd strike by Moses Omoduemuke. The result saw the Oluyole Stars at No 6, from fifth.
Abia Warriors remained at No 8 after forcing Sporting Lagos to 1-1 in Umuahia. The home team were shocked when Naibe Akpesiri short the visitors ahead in the 19th minute. But the Warriors fought back gamely and were rewarded six minutes to the end of regulation time when Pascal Nwabueze sent the home fans rocking.
All results: Abia Warriors 1-1 Sporting Lagos, Sunshine Stars 1-0 Shooting Stars, Heartland 1-0 Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars 1-0 Gombe United, Kano Pillars 1-0 Akwa United, Kwara United 0-0 Doma United, Niger Tornadoes 0-0 Remo Stars, Plateau United 2-1 Ranger (all FT); Katsina v Enyimba, Rivers United v Bayelsa United (both postponed)
