Bendel Insurance’s perfect start in the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League season came to an end on Saturday evening after Benin Arsenal were held to a barren draw at home by visiting Gombe United. 

Having won all of their first five matches in the campaign prior to today’s Matchday 6 encounter, Bendel Insurance were the better team going into the fixture against Gombe United that have only managed to pick just one win thus far. 

Imade Osarenkhoe, who was on a four-game scoring streak, had the first chance to find the net from an open space seven minutes into action.

The effort of the University of Benin graduate went over the post before Chidi Ernest’s chance to score Gombe United was wasted the visitors’ attacker final touch was poor infront of goal.

The first half ended without any other significance action as the half ended. 

In the 57th minute, Bendel Insurance was close to grabbing a sensational breakthrough when defender Vincent Augustus met Ebuka Akobundu with his head freekick from 22 yards out but Augustus’ header went wide off the post.

The defensive-minded Gombe United side were able to cage the dangerous Insurance forward for the entirety of the game as it ended goalless at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The result created an upset for Insurance in the battle for top of the Group A standings but still occupy the top spot in the group with 16 points from possible 18 points with four points ahead of second-placed Remo Stars.

However, Remo Stars can reduce Insurance four points lead to just one if the Sky Blue Stars win their own match against Akwa United tomorrow.

In the other Matchday 6 fixture that was decided today, Abia Warriors recorded a massive away win in six-goal thriller game against Dakkada FC at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Abia Warriors thrashed Dakkada 4-2 to hand the Akwa Ibom-based club their fourth consecutive defeat of the season.

In the 27th minute of today’s encounter, Emmanuel Onu capitalised on a loose ball to grab the lead for the visitors before John Peter doubled the tally in the 48th minute.

Emmanuel Ayoasi would soon pull one back for Dakkada seventeen minutes later. 

Felix Aniekwe returned the Warriors’ two-goal lead with his long-range shot in the 79th minute strike, which happened to be the 100th goal of the 2022/23 NPFL season.

Barely four minutes later, Aniekan Ekpe reduced the deficit for the hosts for the second time in the game.

Exactly on the 90th minute time mark, Monday Yakubu scored Abia Warriors fourth goal of the match to seal the victory for the visitors, putting an end to exciting encounter.

With the victory, Abia Warriors move up to second in the Group B standings with 12 points tied with Lobi Stars, who will slug it out tomorrow with Niger Tornadoes, while Dakkada remain in the relegation zone.