Bernard Ovoke struck his fifth goal of the season as Rivers United beat Akwa United 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest on Wednesday.

Ovoke’s strike, in the fifth minute of the game, took a wicked deflection off Harrison Ibukun to hoodwink the Akwa United goal keeper, Bassey Akpan.

Clear cut opportunities were few and far between in the contest but the hosts almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time.

Ovoke’s teasing ball, following exceptional work by Obomate Frederick found Godbless Asamoah on the left but the Ghanaian skied his volley wide to the anguish of the home faithful.

Rivers United had the first real goal scoring opportunity after the break, on the hour with Obomate shockingly firing over from 14 yards with just Bassey at his mercy.

Akwa’s best chance arrived eight minutes before the restart when Ukaeme Davies headed over from close range after Friday Ubong expertly set him up with a cross.

The win lifts Rivers United up to second on the NPFL standings with 31 points from 18 matches while Akwa drop to seventh with 27 points from 18 matches.

Sammy Wejinya,Media Officer Rivers United