Cottonera 9
Mtarfa 0
The final result is a clear indication that Cottonera had a very easy task to bag three points against Mtarfa. They dictated matters for long stretches and they look a very combined outfit with a promising future.
Following this game, Cottonera are in second placing on 25 points from 11 games, a point more than Sirens who are on 24 points from 10 games with two games in hand and one of which is against Cottonera and the other against Luqa. If Cottonera win against Sirens, they will be the Runners-Up. Mtarfa are third from bottom on nine points from 11 games.
Cottonera created the first action as Gian L Scicluna was fouled outside the area. From the free kick by Gabriel Calleja, Mtarfa keeper Matthew Borg partly saved the ball and Matthew Farrugia drove the ball over the bar from the rebound.
In Mtarfa’s only action in the first period Matthew Calleja was fouled outside the area and Danilo Francalanza drove well off target from the free kick,
The ‘goleada’ commenced in the 7th minute when Jean A Spiteri released Gabriel Calleja on the left flank who, after advancing, scored with a hard grounder from the edge of the area.
Four minutes later the score became 2-0 as Matthew Farrugia served Calleja with a through ball in the area and after he was tripped by keeper Borg, who was shown the red card, Spiteri made no mistake from the spot beating Andrea Galea who substituted Borg between the posts.
The Cottonera youngsters kept pressing for more goals and Calleja dribbled past a defender on the left flank and served Spiteri in the area but he drove over the bar.
In the 20th minute Cottonera made it 3-0 as Brolin Genovese served Gian L Sultana with a through pass in the area and he netted with a hard grounder.
Minutes later ,Stephan Mercieca came very close to scoring another goal as he pounced on a faulty goal kick, but after advancing missed the upright.
The fifth goal was scored on the half hour as Mercieca dribbled past a defender on the right flank and Calleja scored with a hard diagonal shot after his perfect cross.
Cottonera added four further goals after the resumption.
Brolin Genovese served Calleja with a through pass, the latter returned the compliment to Sultana who scored with a very hard drive from outside the area in the 46th minute.
Four minutes later, substitute Carl L Dimitri pounced on a loose ball, entered the area after beating two opponents and scored with a rising shot.
The same player dribbled past a defender on the right flank and Calleja scored with a header from inside the area following his very perfect cross.
In the 62nd minute substitue Matthew Pace served Sultana in the area who netted with a low shot for a final result of 9-0.
Referee: Joseph Vella
Player of the match: Gabriel Calleja (Cottonera)
Gudja Utd 0
Zurrieq 2
(walk over)
This game was not played because Gudja failed to turn up.
Referee Dorian Caruana allowed the ten minutes grace after
kick-off time but still Gudja failed to report for the game.
Zurrieq were awarded a 2-0 win on a walkover and ended their 12-game commitments in top spot on 30 points from 12 games.
Sirens are in second place on 24 points with two games in hand. If they win both games, a decider will have to be played to determine the Section winner and eventual qualification for the promotion play-offs.
Section winners
Congratulations to Hamrun S who won Section honours of the Under 17 Section A, having amassed 49 points from 22 games.
They won their last game against St Patrick by a second half goal by Rodney Refalo.
This success coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Hamrun S Nursery and also it’s the first time that Hamrun won this honour.
Paola H and Sliema W are joint Runners-Up on 46 points also from 22 games.
Hamrun S, Paola H and Sliema W qualify for the Under 17 Knock-Out competition.
Draws for this competition will be made next week and venues and kick-off times will be announced as soon as these are known.