Kano Pillars Maintain Top Spot After League Resumption

A hat-trick, 19 goals, two Super Eagles strikers among the goals and two away draws were part of the major events of Match Day 26 in the Glo Premier League.Defending champions, Kano Pillars, also opened a three-point lead at the top as the three clubs, Nasarawa United, Enyimba and Dolphins, chasing them before the start of the match day all lost on the road.

Bayelsa United 3-1 Nembe City

The early kick-off of the match day produced four goals and Frank Egharevba's hat-trick proved enough to help Bayelsa United secure a 3-1 win over Nembe. Timitimi Iwekede scored for Nembe, who remain in bottom place. Bayelsa United are now out of the bottom four.FC Taraba 1-1 Kano Pillars

Adamu Hassan gave the reigning champions the lead just before half time, and they defended that lead till the final seconds of the game when Nuru Ahmed equalised for FC Taraba. Pillars now have 44 points and remain top of the table while FC Taraba are in 16th position with 33 points.Heartland 2-0 Kaduna United

First half goals from John Nnam and Osas Okoro helped Heartland to their ninth win of the season. Heartland's win sees them move into the top 10 from their previous 13th position while Kaduna United, without an away point all season, drop to 19th.Crown FC 3-0 Nasarawa United

Crown produced the surprise result of the match day when they defeated Nasarawa United 3-0. Bode Daniel, Harrison Egbune and Francis Nnedum scored for Crown as they kept their bid for survival alive though they are still in the bottom four. Nasarawa United stay second but are now three points behind league leaders, Pillars.Sharks 1-0 Gombe United

Sharks had to wait till the 56th minute before Chima Akas scored what turned out to be the winning goal. The Port Harcourt-based club are now in eighth place with 38 points. Gombe United drop into the relegation zone.Lobi Stars 0-0 El-Kanemi Warriors

The game between Lobi Stars and El-Kanemi in Katsina-Ala is the only one that did not produce a goal. Lobi are in ninth position with 38 points while El-Kanemi have two points less in 12th place.Akwa United 1-0 Enyimba

Enyimba stay in third place and are now four points behind Kano Pillars after their 1-0 loss at Akwa United. Kufre Ebong scored for Akwa United in the 45th minute as Enyimba hardly threatened their opponents in the game. Akwa United move into seventh position with 39 points.Abia Warriors 2-0 Giwa FC

Ladan Bosso's Abia Warriors cruised to a 2-0 win over Giwa FC in a composed display at the Umuahia Township Stadium. A goal in each half from Peter Onyekachi and Torty Okorie lifted Warriors from fifth to fourth place on 40 points. Giwa FC are in 13th position.Rangers 2-1 Dolphins

Super Eagles striker, Osaguona Ighodaro, set the tone for this match with a 10th minute goal for Rangers and has now emerged top scorer of the league with 14 goals. Tijani Adamu equalised for Dolphins in the 63rd minute before Christian Obiozor scored Rangers' winner seven minutes later. Rangers are now in 14th position while Dolphins drop out of the top four.Warri Wolves 1-0 Sunshine Stars

Another Super Eagles striker, Gbolahan Salami, also scored. Salami's goal against his former team, Sunshine Stars, was good enough to win the three points for Wolves in Warri. Sunshine are now in 11th position and Wolves move into number five on the table with 40 points.

MATCH DAY 26 (September 17, 2014)

Credit: lmc-ng.org