Bala, Omoyele score as Enyimba excel in Bauchi

Reuben Bala scored his second goal in his third appearances this season as Enyimba come out on top against Wikki Tourists at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The pacy forward marked his return from a fourteen months layoff with a goal against FC Ifeanyi Uba, and followed up that form with a fifteen minute opener as the People’s Elephant claimed three points with a lively performance in Bauchi.

Although the hosts showed substance and levelled up with Stephen Gopey’s header, Tosin Omoyele won it for Enyimba with a powerful strike in the second half.

Following a fiery start that saw Anayo Iwuala and Francis Odeh come close for their respective sides in the early exchanges, Enyimba stepped in the driving seat in the fifteenth minute when Reuben Bala ran to the end of Tosin Omoyele’s clever pass and smartly slotted into the far post.

Bala came close to his brace ninety seconds later, smashing the ball against the upright after outrunning his markers.

The hosts enjoyed a good spell afterwards and found their leveller right after the half-hour when Stephen Gopey headed in a loose ball in the goalmouth.

With two goals and explosive displays characterising the first half, there was yet more to come on the other side of the interval.

Fatai Osho introduced Cyril Olisema to add number to Enyimba’s midfield, and the move yielded good dividends as the People’s Elephant regained control of proceedings.

Bala kept up with his impressive performance and his powerful strike was only thwarted by Ospino Egbe brilliance, before the keeper tightened his angle again to block Dare Olatunji’s drive.

Fatai Osho’s men were duly rewarded for their dominance midway through the half as Tosin Omoyele coolly received Anayo’s through ball before firing into the roof.

Omoyele was close to bagging his brace as Enyimba caught the opponents on the break, but just could not steer his lob into goal.

Manu Garba failed to make much of the space he found in the Enyimba box and blew his shot over, while John Noble denied the hosts from point blank range in added time to seal his side’s fourth win on the road this term.

Click here for full match statistics.