Chukwunonso Okonkwo struck in the 66th minute to fire Rivers United past a resolute El-Kanemi Warriors side 1-0 in an exciting Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest decided on Wednesday.<br /><br />The forward rounded off a flowing team move that saw youngster, Daniel Israel provide the decisive pass as United won successive games in the NPFL for the first time this season.<br /><br />The home side struggled to break down the visitors in a first half that failed to spark into life at the Yakubu Gowon (former Port Harcourt Liberation) Stadium.<br /><br />Talismanic midfielder, Obomate Frederick missed out yet again for United as he failed to recover from the ankle injury he sustained in the 0-1 defeat to 3SC on match day seven.<br /><br />In his absence, the United manager handed Ebuka Nnabuo his debut and he excelled with an assured display in the middle of the park.<br /><br />The visitors hardly threatened all game with only a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to show for their exertions all afternoon.<br /><br />United&rsquo;s technical manager, Stanley Eguma while admitting that his side played well, refused to get carried away with the performance which guaranteed all three points.<br /><br />&ldquo;Nobody is getting carried away here. We have achieved nothing and will continue to work hard.<br /><br />&ldquo;The league is a marathon and not a sprint&hellip;&hellip;.we still have 28 more games to play.<br /><br />&ldquo;There is still room for improvement but we will get there eventually,&rdquo; Eguma said in response to a questioned posed to him at the post match press conference by Rivers United Media.<br /><br />Wednesday&rsquo;s result represented a second successive win for Eguma and his charges as United climb up to 5th on the standings, three points off top spot, having amassed 16 points from 10 matches.<br /><br />El-Kanemi&rsquo;s coach, Ladan Bosso praised United for their win while identifying &lsquo;technical problems&rsquo; for his side&rsquo;s defeat.<br /><br />&ldquo;Generally, it was a good game. Congratulations to Rivers United. (The goal they scored) was from a slim chance but they got it right.<br /><br />&ldquo;I know the problems of my team. They are purely technical&hellip;we will go back (home) and work on them.<br /><br />&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t entertain any fears (about the chances of my teamin the league). We will do well this season,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />The Warriors have now lost their last two games and currently sit in 16th place on the NPFL standings with 10 points from the same number of matches.<br /><br />Igho Kingsley<br />