It was a bad day on the last day of the regular season for Heartland Queens as they were beaten with two unanswered goals by topflight newcomers and hosts, Dannaz Ladies.
The Wednesday’s NWFL Premiership matchday 14 game at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos saw the Owerri side being made to groan bitterly with two unreplied second half goals after the side’s initial dominance of almost the entire first 45 minutes ended on a goalless note.
In the absence of the Owerri mainstreams’ conjurewoman, Mary Lucky another upscale attacker, Chinedu Chinaka was drafted in to spearhead the attack as well as cover for the Nigeria’s U-20 markswoman.
The game commenced on high tempo note which saw the Owerri landladies practically playing the first 25 minutes in the half of their opponents in search for the trademark lead of late to no avail.
Relieve almost came on their way on a platter of gold in the sixth minute when Blessing Ekpo’s ferocious grounder missed the target by few whiskers after the Lagos-based side goalie, Selimoh Jimoh have been thoroughly and roundly beaten hands down.
Few minutes later, it was the turn of Chinedu Chinaka to miss a simple tap in to the consternation of the impressive crowds that turned out en masse to witness the topflight matchup and most importantly to the relieve of the under pressure homers. The duo of Onyinyechi Kalu and on the field captain, Chimebere Opara also had their fair shares of the misses this time due to poor anticipation.
The Owerri side were not threatened in the half except occasional flashes and forays from the most enterprising and exciting player on matchday and who later became the two-goal heroine of the day, Delight Isaac but the forays were made to look nothing by the Owerri side goalie, Uchechi Onyechere, who actually had her first start of the regular season.
Questionable calls were afoot almost in the entire second term of the game. Part of the calls was the penalty awarded to the home side in the 67th minute which was converted by the opposite talisman, Delight Isaac and she was to finish a rewarding day for herself with aplomb on a brace in the 83rd minute.
The Owerri side manager, Obi Ogbala pulled out three minutes upon restart the duo of Blessing Ekpo and Mary Okorie for Nigeria’s cadet star, Yetunde Anyantosho and Oluchi Okwara aimed at getting cushioning and possibly breaking the opposite backbones to no avail.
Unyeilding to possible defeat, coach Ogbala took out the twosome, Onyinyechi Kalu and Chidinma Anaele for Chinwendu Orji and Nnenna Williams to stem the tide of opposite workaholics, Isaac, Fatimoh Solaty and Zainab Raji and chance a breakthrough but that was not to be on matchday.
The final dice of the day was youngster, Nwabueze Charles who was called into the fray to take the place of attacker, Chinedu Chinaka yet nothing seems to change the tide until the poor umpires on matchday decided to call time on further proceedings leaving the debutants to draw the curtains on the regular season on a winning note.
Despite the sore noses in the hands of Dannaz Ladies on the final day of the regular season, the Owerri side have before then secured passage to her first time ever Super Six showdown together with group’s mates, Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens.
The 0-2 loss to Dannaz Ladies saw Heartland Queens end the regular season’s campaign on the third spot on 24 points three and one respectively behind former champions and leaders, Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens.
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