By Eche Amos

Striker, Alaekwe Chijioke registered his first goal in Nasarawa United’s colours after his first-half goal gave the Lafia based side a 1-0 victory over regional heavyweights, Niger Tornadoes, in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League matchday fourteen derby clash at the Lafia City Stadium on Monday.

In-form Michael Tochukwu, with his 3rd assist this season, had found the former Kano Pillars’ hitman inside the box and he wasted no time to head home in the 23rd minute in a game largely dominated by the Solid Miners.

Both sides went on to create more goalscoring chances but failed to find any way through as the physical and feisty derby encounter ended in favour of the home side, a result that puts them 8th on the log with twenty points, nine points behind leaders Rivers United and four above the Ikon Allah Boys who are now placed 15th with 16 points.

Nasarawa United will next play Rivers United in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, coming weekend in the NPFL matchday fifteen.

“We had a great game today against a strong opposition and we hope to keep winning,” coach Bala Nkiyu said after the victory.

“We are aiming for our first away win when we play against Rivers United in our next game.”

Tornadoes coach, Abubakar Bala regretted the loss but lauded his boys for playing a good football in a tough derby

“It’s a North-Central derby that brings together some of the best coaches from the region. Normally, it’s going to be a tough game.

“However, it’s a good match, unfortunately, we lost to a very good side, even though my boys gave a very good account of themselves.

“We had actually planned to get something out of today’s game, but we were unable to utilise our chances.

“Nasarawa United are a very good side, and the game was a 50-50 affair but United were lucky after creating some few chances and were able to convert one of those chances.