Calabar ----------------------- Calabar Rovers on Saturday secured a 1 – 0 victory against the visiting Stationery Stores of Lagos in a gruelling encounter at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

The match which was the week 11 game in the Nigerian National League, NNL, saw both teams trying to assert themselves from the first blast of the whistle but Rovers  took its chance early in the game.

The goal was scored in the 8th minutes of the game by Daniel Ilebvare, one of Rovers standout players this season and a leading goal scorer of the club, courtesy of a pass from the flank by Emmanuel Odafi.

Although both teams fought hard to secure a victory, the home team created more clear opportunities but could not convert their chances to goals.

The match continued that way to the second half and in the 50th minute, Rovers missed another clear opportunity to make the scoreline 2 – 0 when Daniel Eni could not tap in a true pass laid to him by Junior Ndukwu.

In spite of the good fight put up by the visiting team, the defence of the home team held strong and their goalkeeper was hardly rattled.

Speaking tin an interview veith reporters, after the match, Head Coach of Stationery Stores, Mr Shakiru Lawal, said his team put up a good fight but lost the game due to inexperience.

“The costly mistake we made in our defence in the first half was a deficiency that cost us the match.

“Although we did our best, it was not good enough. We will go back home, review the match and make some necessary corrections,” he said.

On his part, Coach Samson Unuanel, Technical Adviser of Rovers of Calabar FC, said he was grateful to God that his team won,  adding that all that was important was the three points which his team secured.

Unuanel, however, complained about what he called poor officiating of the match.

His words, “I face problems in away matches and at home I am still facing problems, I can’t take it anymore.

“I am not happy about the officiating of today’s game, we have played 10 matches here in Calabar but they all looked like away games.

”We need to have a stakeholders meeting and ask relevant questions on how our matches are officiated."

Rovers’ are currently in second position in the NNL Sounthern Conference Group B 1 with 17 points.

They will play their next match at the Agege Township Stadium with host Stationery Stores of Lagos on April 24, after the mid-season break.