Just under the Saturday scorching afternoon sun at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Ughelli Rovers Football Club proven to be the better side in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Holy Arrows Football Club in the Matchday 4 encounter of the New Year Mega Lottery Nationwide League One (NLO) Division One 2025 Season at the capital city of Delta State.
The win marks the second official meeting between the two sides, with Ughelli Rovers maintaining their perfect record against Holy Arrows, having won their previous outing with the same scoreline.
Coming off the back of two consecutive losses, this victory was a much-needed boost for the Eguono V’Owvian Boys as they cling to their slim hopes of finishing the season on a good note regardless of the final outcome.
The game burst into life when Osim Douglas, opened the scoring for Ughelli Rovers in the 28th minute, outpacing the Holy Arrows’ defense to slot home a low drive past the goalkeeper.
However, the Oleh-based side responded late in the second half, equalizing through a well-taken free-kick to produce a precise finish in the 89th minute following a foul caused by defender Buchi Samuel on the far-left outside the box.
Despite relentless pressure from both teams, Osim Douglas proved to be the difference-maker once again after the centre referee signaled for a foul on star striker Udori Great, awarding the Ughelli-based outfit a penalty kick in the stoppage time.
With moments away to the final whistle, the Cross River-born forward from the six-yard spot on the 94th minute, latched the ball to the far-right hand corner to restore the lead and secure a 2-1 victory for the Eguono V’Owvian Boys.
With time ticking away, Holy Arrows pushed forward with a high-pressing offensive play, canceling Ughelli Rovers’ offside trap with a one-time through pass to set up one of their fast-paced attackers, powering a clinical strike to the top edge of the crossbar but captain and goalkeeper Efe Bartholomew had a clearer sight to pull a season-contending save to maintain k the score.
Holy Arrows, meanwhile, the loss leaves them rooted in fifth position, with little but pride to play for in the season’s curtain closer against a bottom-placed Isoko United in a few days’ time at the same match venue.
Ughelli Rovers’ head coach, Ekete Nyerovwo, in the post-match conference, admitted that the match was not without its challenges, with Osim Douglas emerged as the hero, scoring a brace to ultimately proved decisive for the Ughelli-based side in the intense showdown.
“Today was about heart and determination. Douglas showed why he’s always there to be counted on, but the entire team fought for every ball. These three points was needed to reclaim our momentum, and take us a place above on the log,” he remarked.
With this win, Ughelli Rovers now turn their focus to their remaining fixture against another well-known counterparts Delta Marines, knowing that their bid to secure a place at this season’s NLO Delta Zonal Playoffs was confirmed dead following the table-toppers OYC FC 2-0 win over Isoko United later that day.
With one step closer to the final lap for the NLO 2025 campaign, the Eguono V’Owvian Boys have shown they can rise to the occasion, and will remain hopeful that their side can someday get it right and advance to the nation’s second-tier football, Nigeria National League (NNL), and even beyond.