Jude Agbeyeke
Two first half goals off the boots of fleet footed Adam Princess was all Ten times Nigeria Women Football League winners, Delta Queens needed to secure all three points at the Steven Keshi International Stadium Asaba when they locked horns with visiting Benue Queens of Makurdi.
The Coach Peter Dedevbo tutored side who lost their first game of the season by a lone goal away to perennial rivals Bayelsa Queens in Yenagoa began the match like foxes with fire on their tails.
The MORE Girls consistently attacked the Basketers vital area from the blast of the whistle and sustained the pressure but their attacking forays was firmly stopped by the Benue Queens goalkeeper Stella Okereke.
The pressure however paid off in the 13th minute after Adam Princess latched onto a loose ball inside the vital area of the visitors before slamming home a fiery shot to the top corner.
The petit winger again handed the host the assurance goal in the 43rd minute after sweeping past two defenders before rolling in a low shot into the bottom corner to seal victory for the Asaba based outfit.
The second half was a pulsating one but Delta Queens failed to capitalize on a flurry of chances created by fleet footed Destiny Itobor but the resilience of the goalkeeper Stella Okereke kept them at bay as she ensured that the Benue Queens were not handed another humiliating defeat after being walloped 5-0 in match day one by Robo Queens of Lagos.
Speaking after the match the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission Mr. Onoriode Oborevwori lauded the team for a superlative performance.
According to him the girls performed beyond expectations especially as they were still work in progress haven been together less than a month before the commencement of the new season.
He however enjoined them to strive to convert any chance created in their subsequent matches beginning with their away match to Adamawa Queens.
The Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly House Committee on Sports, Honorable Emmanuel Sinebe also commended the MORE girls for ensuring that they picked all 3 points saying it was clear that the girls were keen on bringing smiles to the face of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who had continued to invest in the sports sector.
Honorable Sinebe enjoined them to sustain the tempo in their subsequent matches as that was the only way to reciprocate the governor huge investment in the sports sector.
The Chairman of the Delta State Football Association Chief Godwin Adode as well as the Director General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr Festus Ohwojero while congratulating the girls for claiming all three points charged them to redouble their efforts in the remaining matches as they cannot afford to throw away chances against more established sides if they were keen on finishing top of the table.
The Coach of Delta Queens Peter Dedevbo while loading his team for winning the game expressed sadness over the several missed chances saying he would try to correct the seeming errors in the next match away to Adamawa Queens.
Coach Dedevbo, a former Super Falcons Coach thanked the Chairman and board of the state sports commission led by Mr Onoriode Oborevwori for the support and assured that the girls will not disappoint in their next match against Adamawa Queens.
Coach Liadi Bashiru of Benue Queens while rueing the few chances created by his team described the debutant as team for the future even as he averred that the technical crew would make adjustments in their next home match.
