San Ġwann  1
Paola Hibs   0

At the Victor Tedesco Stadium a large crowd atteneded to watch this game. The first half was shorn of note-worthy actions and there was only one shot at goal from a free kick. 

San Ġwann created the first two actions as Jake Grech was fouled on the left flank and the same player drove well off target from the free kick and Sheldon Galea was fouled in his own half and the free kick was taken by keeper Miguel Xerri and his high drive was headed away.

The Paolites reacted as they mounted four actions. A flag kick by Owden Vella was headed away with difficulty. Zachary Chetcuti dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and his perfect cross in the area found no takers to apply the killer touch and the same player then released Vella in the area but he was foiled by a timely clearance by a defender and Buttigirg was fouled on the left edge of the area and from the free kick by Zachary Chetcuti  the ball hit he upper part of the bar and finished out, and this was the only shot at goal in the first period. San Ġwann created the last action before the break as after a flag kick by Nathan Sultana Paola keeper Nathan Mangion saved a header by Galea from inside the area and so the first period eneded with the score sheet still blank.

The game came into life after the resumption as more actions were created. The first actions came from San Ġwann. James Vella was fouled on the right flank and from Andrea’ Zammit’s free kick the ball was headed away with difficulty and Dale Mifsud set Zammit through in the area and Mangion foiled with a timely sortie as he dived at his feet and smothered the ball, at the other end Neil Buttigieg was fouled on the left flank and after the free kick by Vella created havoc in San Ġwann’s area the ball was cleared away.

Two actions were then created by San Ġwann. Sultana served Vella with a cross in the area from the left flank and his header missed the upright and the same player served Mifsud with a high through ball in the area and he headed past Mangion but the point was disallowed for off side.

The goal that broke the dead lock was scored on the hour. Sultana served Zammit with a cross in the area from the left flank and as Mangion palmed out the ball from his header Assistant Norbert Grech flagged for a goal judging that the ball has crossed the fatal line in the air and the referee pointed to the centre spot and despite the protests by the Paola Hibs players’ he allowed the point to stand.

In another San Ġwann action a flag kick by Sultana was cleared with difficulty and in a Paola action Chetcuti served substitute Jake Portelli on the right flank and San Ġwann keeper Miguel Xerri neutralised the ball following his high cross in the area.

After the game Mr Mario Cardona Head of Global Security presented the Trophy to San Ġwann captain Andrew Xuereb and medals to both sets of players, substitutes and to the game officials.

San Ġwann:  M.Xerri, J.Vella, A.Zammit, K.Zarb, D.Mifsud, J.Grech, J.Zahra, A.Xuereb, S.Galea, K.Borg, N.sultana

Paola Hibs:  N.Mangion, N.Buttigieg, A.Camilleri, D.Caruana, M.Cassar, Z.Chetcuti, B.Ihuomah, L.Kassab, J.Musu, L.Sapiano, O.Vella 

Referee:  Joseph Scerri

Assistant I: Jareth Grima  assistant II Norbert Grech