BY Femi Atolagbe

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Sunshine Stars’ steady rise in the 2021/22 NPFL season continued on matchday seven, following a 2-0 drubbing of Gombe United at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode.

Goals from Promise Orji and Babatunde Bello in either half of midweek’s encounter lifted the Owena Whales up to seventh on the standings, with a game in hand.

Orji put the hosts ahead with an improvised finish, off a well-threaded Bello’s pass in the early minutes of the opening half.

Bello doubled the advantage for the Deji Ayeni tinkered side with yet another beautifully-dispatched free kick two minutes into the second period.

The Savanah Scorpions picked up the intensity with good ball distribution, but were denied territorial penetration by a well-organised Sunshine Stars back line.

Sunshine Stars could have extended the lead in the 82nd minute but Nwogbaga Ebonam miscued in front of goal from Mutiu Dauda’s low cross.

Regardless, the Akure landlords secured their second win of the season in a comfortable fashion, and next visit Uyo for a matchday eight meeting with champions, Akwa United.

According to Sunshine Stars coach, Deji Ayeni in a post match interview”I know Gombe United to be a technical side like us and they keep the ball on the ground; myself and their coach (Aliyu Zubairu) share the same philosophy, so it was important for us to get the early goals in both halves to unsettle them. Our unbeaten run continue; it’s now game five.

“There is not team that is not beatable as I always say, it all depend on the approach. The team we are going to meet determine the kind of tactics we are adopt; by the time we get to Akwa we work on what we know about them to get something out of the game.”