APS Bank U-16 Sec. A

Valletta 2

Mellieha 3

Newly promoted Valletta lost the game after being twice in the lead, and after two defensive lapses in the final six minutes, when they suffered two goals. The northerners turned the applecart in their favour after being twice in arrears.

Valletta went out on attack and Micky Vassallo put Charlton Scicluna through, the latter crossed to Joseph Calleja but failed to apply the killer touch with only Mellieha’ keeper Andrea Frascogna to beat.

A cross by Neil Saliba found no takers in Valletta’s area and from a through ball by Anthony Bonanno City keeper Adam Debattista saved the shot by Saliba. A few minutes later, he also saved a shot by Brandon Zammit.

On 20 minutes Valletta took the lead through Joseph Galea who scored direct from a free kick with a hard grounder. Two minutes later, Bonanno was put through, the City defenders stopped for a non-existent offside, and after advancing, he scored with a rising shot from 25 metres.

The City players crowded the referee who took no action. After consulting his assistant Chris Francalanza, the official allowed the point to stand. Frascogna saved to corner a shot by Jonathan Bugeja after receiving a cross from the right. Five minutes before half time Valletta re-established their lead from a header by Neil Curmi after a Galea well-taken free kick.

In the second half, Thomas Cauchi put Neil Saliba through but City defender Neil Blundell foiled him with a timely clearance. Frascogna foiled Charlton Scicluna with a timely sortie after a Galea through ball, and a well-taken flag kick by Galea found no one to apply the killer touch. A well-taken free kick by Vassallo missed Mellieha’s upright by inches.

Debattista then saved to corner a shot by Neil Saliba after a Matteo Bugeja through ball. On 74 minutes Mellieha levelled the score; substitute Robert Muscat was put through in the area, advanced unhindered and shot low past Debattista, and two minutes later he scored a third goal in a similar action giving his side the three points and obtaining a personal brace.

Referee: Duncan Sultana

Player of Match: Joseph Galea (Valletta)

APS Bank U-16 Sec. C

Pembroke Ath 0

Naxxar Lions 0

Naxxar were unlucky not to have bagged the three points at stake. They had the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the whole game but found Pembroke keeper Matthew Galea in fine and unbeatable form.

Andrew Axiaq put Daniel Camilleri through but a Naxxar defender cleared the danger at the other end, Andy Bartolo put Khail Drago through but Matthew Galea dived at his feet and smothered the ball. He was soon called in action again to save a rebound by Adrian Fenech after a partial clearance on a Drago shot.

A shot by Jonathan Agius missed Pembroke’s upright and a header by Elton Cutajar was headed off the line after a Fenech flag kick. Drago then crossed to Agius who drove over the bar. Just before the half time whistle, Pembroke nearly scored against the run of play but Bryan Attard saved the low shot by Chris Buttigieg.

The Lions resumed their pressure after the restart. Kurt Barber put Bartolo through but Galea saved his shot in two attempts and a while later he turned to corner a Drago shot after a Bartolo cross.

Galea was again called in action and he denied Drago with a fine diving save.

A free kick by Fenech skimmed Pembroke’s upright and from a through pass by Bartolo, Galea denied Drago with another diving save to a corner.

Four minutes before the end, Naxxar were denied a penalty when Kurt Barber was tripped in the area after he was put through but the referee waved play on.

Referee: Chris Francalanza

Player of Match: Khail Drago (Naxxar Lions)

Other results

Under 14

Section B: Mgarr-Sirens 1-1.

Section C: Mqabba-Senglea 0-2; Attard-Dingli 5-0; St George’s-Siggiewi 1-2; Ghaxaq-Gzira 0-4; Kirkop-Lija/Iklin 2-5; M’xlokk-Zejtun 1-1; Gudja-Zebbug 0-2; Marsa-B’Buga WM 1-0; Luqa-Zurrieq 3-1.

Under 16

Section A: Floriana-Mosta 2-1.

Section C: Gudja-Gzira 9-1; B’Buga WM-Marsaxlokk 3-1; Fgura U.-Kirkop 6-0; Luqa-Sirens 1-2; Marsa-Dingli S. 2-1; Siggiewi-Ghaxaq 3-2; Mqabba-Lija/Iklin 2-5.