Hearts of Oak climbed to second place in the Premier League standings after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Samartex 1996 at the University of Ghana Stadium on Friday evening.

An early strike from Hamza Issah, just six minutes into the contest, proved decisive as the Phobians claimed all three points in the capital. The goal, Issah’s fourth of the campaign, propelled Hearts level on 28 points with leaders Aduana FC, firmly thrusting them into the heart of the title race.

Under the astute guidance of Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, Hearts of Oak are beginning to show genuine Premier League credentials. The victory marked their seventh league win of the season and capped a strong first-round run, with just one fixture remaining before the midway point of the campaign.

The Phobians displayed composure and defensive discipline to preserve their slender lead, frustrating a determined Samartex side and underlining their growing maturity in high-stakes encounters.

For FC Samartex 1996, the defeat sees them remain sixth on the table with 24 points from 16 matches, as the battle at the top of the league continues to intensify.