APS Bank U/16 Section B

Qormi 2

Tarxien R 0

Following this result Qormi are in top spot on 7 points from 3 games while Tarxien are still pointless from same number of games. The Yellow/Blacks deservedly took the lead in the first period as they were more direct and dangerous in their approaches but they scored a second goal against the run of play in the third minute of added time, Tarxien had more of the exchanges in the second period and a draw would have been a fairer result.

The first action came from Tarxien as Matthew Galdes served Waylon Falzon with a cross from the right but Qormi keeper Eman Ellul saved his shot from outside the area in two attempts, at the other end, Luke Azzopardi Glenn Zammit in the area but a defender cleared his shot to a corner.

In the 18th minute Tarxien nearly opened the score after a choral move; Luke Grech Matthew Galdes with a through ball on the right flank, the latter crossed to Graeme Agius who failed to apply the killer touch with only Ellul to beat

In Qormi’s next attack two minutes later they forged ahead. George Chircop served Luke Azzopardi with a through ball on the right flank who in turn served Jurgen Gerada with a cross on the edge of the area who netted with a hard grounder past Tarxien keeper Chris Agius.

Five minutes later, Tarxien went very close to equalise after a prolonged action. Clive Fenech served Graeme Agius with a through ball inside Qormi’s half and Ellul had to dive and save his shot to a corner, from the flag kick by Antoine Barbara the ball was partially cleared and the rebound shot by Warren Zerafa missed the upright by inches with Ellul beaten, Tarxien kept insisting and Barbara served Graeme Agius with a short corner pass and his shot from outside the area was cleared to another corner.

Qormi reacted by creating two actions in succession. Gerada served Zammit with a through ball on the right flank who then crossed to Jurgen Stanyer and the ball was cleared to a corner from his shot from inside the area and Alessio Cassar served Stanyer in the area but keeper Chris Agius foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie, and the last action before the break came from Tarxien as from a Barbara well-taken flag kick Zerafa missed the upright with his shot

Tarxien enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges after restart. After Zerafa was fouled outside the area by Gabriel Buttigieg,the ball was cleared with difficulty from the free kick shot by Clive Fenech, Melchior Grech then served Zerafa with a square pass and after beating two opponents Ellul saved his shot in two attempts and Ellul came to his side’s rescue once again when he save a rising shot by Waylon Falzon after he was served with a back-pass by Zerafa. From the drop–kick by Ellul, Gerada won a loose ball in Tarxien’s half and after advancing on the right flank the ball missed the upright from his cross-shot Tarxien kept insisting, and after Fenech pounced on a faulty clearance Ellul saved his shot from outside the area.

Substitute Justin Cardona was fouled on the right flank of the area the ball was cleared with difficulty after the free kick shot taken by Clive Fenech, in a Qormi counter-attack, Gerada served Azzopardi with a through ball and the latter returned the compliment to Zammit and the ball was cleared to a corner after his shot from inside the area.

Four minutes before normal time Tarxien were very unlucky not to have equalised when Waylon Falzon served Luke Grech in the area, Ellul partially saved his shot and from the rebound shot by substitute Clayton Schembri the ball missed the upright by inches with Ellul beaten.

In the third minute of added time Qormi scored a second goal against the run of play as the ball thumped the bar from a free kick shot by Gerada and Luke Azzopardi headed in the rebound to make it 2-0.

Referee: Saviour Tanti Player of the match: Clive Fenech (Tarxien R)

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APS Bank U/16 Section C

Kalkara 0

Marsa 5

Marsa were the better side against a very weak Kalkara who lacked ideas by being erratic in their passing and slow in their approaches.

Kalkara keeper Martin Galea saved his side from a much heavier defeat with his good saves.

The first action came from Marsa, Kurt Zammit served Keith Hili with a through ball on the left flank, who served Gino Ciantar with a cross-pass and Martin Galea saved his shot from inside the area. Marsa opened the score in the ninth minute when Scan Spiteri pounced on a faulty clearance and scored with a lobbed ball after entering the area.

Kalkara were awarded a free kick which was taken by Glen Farrugia but a Marsa defender headed the ball away to safety. On 21 minutes the score nearly became 2-0 after Keith Hili was fouled outside the area and from the free kick shot taken by Kurt Attard the ball missed the bar by inches, Marsa kept insisting and Kurt Zammit served Hili in the area, Martin Galea partially saved his shot and a defender cleared the ball to a corner.

Two minutes before half time Rueben Cassar should have equalised for Kalkara; keeper Galea served him with a long drop kick and after entering the area he drove out with only Marsa keeper Leighton Mifsud to beat, and they paid dearly for this miss as in Marsa’s next attack they doubled the scored after Hili was tripped in the area and Kurt Zammit made no mistake from the spot.

The second period was a total dominance by Marsa. Galea denied Sean Spiteri with a fine diving save to corner and also saved a free kick shot by Kurt Attard.

The score became 3-0 in the 59th minute through Gino Ciantar who scored from inside the area after he was put through by Keith Hili. Attard then served Joshua Mercieca with a through ball in the area and his shot was cleared to a corner.

Keith Hili scored No4 in the 63rd minute with a rising shot from inside the area after he was served with a cross from the right by Gino Ciantar and ten minutes later Marsa completed the hammering when Attard headed past Galea from inside the area after a well-taken free kick by Joshua Mercieca.

Referee: Thomas Debono

Player of match: Sean Spiteri (Marsa)