Naxxar L 1

St Patrick 1

Naxxar Lions and St Patrick gained their first point of the season when they finished in a low profile 1-1 draw. Both goals were scored in the opening minutes of the match, which promised much, but which at the end left those present rather disappointed.

St Patrick were slightly the better team in the first half, but Naxar were surely the better team in the second period, and could have even snatched the winner in the final minutes. Naxxar’s youngster Darren Falzon was surely the best player on the field showing some very good touches apart from scoring Naxxar’s equalizer in style.

St Patrick started on a positive note taking an early lead through Blendi Gockaj who headed home a Jurgen Farrugia corner. The Lions roared back and were back on level terms on 14 minutes when Daren Falzon beat the offside trap and lobbed the ball over the helpless Saints’ goalkeeper.

However after this promising start, the match was boring at times with few goalmouth actions.

The Saints had an opportunity when Portelli shot wide following a melee, and on the other end Darren Falzon’s header went slightly off target.

On the resumption the Saints had their best attempt at goal when Jurgen Farugia’s freekick was brilliantly saved by Naxar goalkeeper Spiteri. On 58 minutes Gockaj’s header was easily saved by Spiteri.

From this moment onwards Naxxar were in full command and on 66 minutes Darren Falzon’s shot on the turn slightly missed the target. Two minutes later Fiori Dos Santos blasted well over the bar from an ideal position.

The Lions finished the match on the offensive but never really tested goalkeeper Joshua

Naxxar L: J. Spiteri, V. Bellia, D. Falzon, A. Farrugia, A. Fenech (J. Debono), R. Schembri, L. Micallef, A. Attard, M. Maccari, H. De Lima Siqueira, E. Fiori Dos Santos (M. Del Negro)

St. Patrick: J. Galea, S. Zerafa, A. Ellul (B. Hysi), M. Xerri, M. Vella (D. Mamo), A. Galea, J. Farrugia, A. Portelli (D. Micallef), S. Dimech, B. Gockaj, E. Grech.

Referee: M. Apap