It was a fruitful return to Katsina after 19 years when Shooting Stars substitute Kolawole Olaniran scored an 84th minute header to salvage a point for the Warriors against Katsina United.
The week Nine NPFL game has started on a fast note as the visitors kicked off the match at the Mohammad Dikko Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams were enterprising and showed some prowess in the final third with 3SC attacking trio of Sunday Adeleye, Apena Jide and Abayomi Adebayo having easy runs at Katsina defence with goalkeeper Paul Dami always responding each time.
The hosts later fully settled in and built up from the midfield with string of accurate passes and deft moves.
One of these counter moves resulted in a corner kick which was weakly cleared out of danger only to result in another foray in the box before Ibrahim Babalola clumsy foul on Obinna Eleje. The resultant penalty was converted by Nasiru Sanni on 27th minute.
Shooting Stars responded well just immediately after the restart but the joint efforts of Ayobami Junior, Tolu Olaifa and Sunday Adeleye was played over the bar by impressive Apena Jide.
The next couple of minutes saw Shooting Stars still in charge but it was Katsina United that would have doubled their lead after a dangerous counter move!
Udechukwu had combined well with Asadi Destiny and Kape Frank to beat Shooting Stars offside trap and Goalkeeper Adamu had to put his body on the way to save a low shot on 42 minutes.
Few minutes after, the young goalie nearly paid for leaving his line to chase a ball in throw-in and a quick restart by Katsina United smartly beaded out by Seun Akinyemi before the referee signalled the end of the first half!
On resumption, the Oluyole Warriors upped the ante with more attacking forays and compact midfield domineering plays but not without occasional responses from the home side.
This forced a change in Katsina line up having Usman Bello coming in for Obinna Eleje to fortify their attack line in 54th minute of the encounter and seven minutes later, Shooting Stars changed fatigued Ayobami Junior for Wasiu Rafiu.
This added more pep for the Fatai Amoo side whose wards seemed to be firmly in control with obvious constant bombardments of Katsina United defence line.
As such, in quick successions, both Wasiu Rafiu and Sunday Faleye were badly fouled in the box on 70th and 71st minutes respectively but the Centre Ref looked the other way despite penalty appeals even to the consternation of the home fans!
Similarly, another goal move was stopped right in the box of Katsina United when the ref blew to attend to two injured Katsina players in our goal area!
By this, Kolawole Olaniran came to replace defensive midfielder Tolu Olaifa, an obvious attempt to sustain our attacking instincts.
It then paid off few minutes later when Kolawole Olaniran headed in a long throw from Sodiq Suraj on 84th minute to silence the once vociferous home fans at the near capacity Mohammad Dikko Stadium.
Expectedly, Katsina United responded quickly but goalkeeper Adamu Mohammed was there to save the situation and injured in the process before he was treated and game resumed.
In order to secure the point firmly, Alaba Osawe came in for Sunday Faleye and the score line remained till the end of the pulsating game with the home fans leaving in disappointment at the result,
By implications, the result gives Shooting Stars its first point on the way this season and a life line to remain 16th position the on the log before the next rescheduled match against Wikki Tourists on Wednesday.
