… Coach Onduku Urges Players to Maintain Momentum, Team Spirit
Bayelsa Starlets Academy of Yenagoa, affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain, delivered a scintillating performance on Tuesday, recording an emphatic 5-2 victory over JCE Football Academy of Aba in their N-Youth League encounter at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.
The Barcelona-affiliated academy continued its impressive run in the competition with a ruthless attacking display, scoring five goals to secure a third consecutive victory and maintain its perfect start to the campaign.
Starlets wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead in the sixth minute through Ifiemi Joel, who produced a delightful left-footed finish to put the visitors ahead.
The Yenagoa-based side doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute when Whytex Jeffery capped a well-orchestrated team move with a clinical finish that he put past JCE FA goalkeeper, Alexander Emmanuel.
Starlets maintained their attacking momentum, with Jude Onisoya extending the lead to 3-0 in the 36th minute. The goal followed an intelligent pass from Ifiemi Joel, who turned provider after opening the scoring.
Onisoya struck again in the 41st minute to complete his brace and further expose the hosts’ defensive frailties. The forward pressured JCE FA defender, Orjika Chukuemeka into an error, won possession and calmly slotted the ball home to send Starlets into the halftime break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
The visitors picked up where they left off after the restart, with Whytex Jeffery grabbing his second goal of the afternoon in the 47th minute. The forward finished off an intelligent pass from Ifiemi Joel to make it 5-0, capping another incisive attacking move and leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb.
However, JCE FA responded after making three substitutions, which injected fresh energy into the home side and shifted the momentum of the encounter.
The Aba-based academy pulled one back in the 60th minute through Sunday’s close-range effort, before Godswill converted a penalty in the 80th minute to reduce the deficit to 5–2.
JCE FA continued to push for more goals, but Bayelsa Starlets regrouped defensively, demonstrating resilience and composure to withstand the hosts’ renewed pressure and protect their three-goal advantage until the final whistle.
The victory takes Bayelsa Starlets to nine points from three matches in the South-South/South-East Conference, underlining their impressive start and strengthening their position among the early pace-setters in the competition.
Speaking after the encounter, Bayelsa Starlets head coach, Gomo Onduku, praised his players for their impressive performance, their attacking quality and determination in securing their third consecutive victory.
Onduku acknowledged the team’s clinical first-half display and commended the players for executing their game plan. However, he noted that conceding two goals after establishing a commanding lead offered valuable lessons for the squad.
N-Youth League: Bayelsa Starlets Thrash JCE FA 5-2 To Maintain Perfect Start
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