APS Bank U/16 Section A

Floriana 1

Paola H 3

Following this result, the Paolites are occupying top spot after Pieta drew against Mosta. Hibs fully deserved the points as they were the better side.

Hibs drew first blood after only four minutes through Bertrand Duncan after a Matthew Gauci through ball. Alan Abela put Dylan Balzia through but his shot missed Paola’s upright.

Mauro Grioli should have equalized for Floriana in the eighth minute but with an open goal at his mercy, after a Mark Spiteri perfect through ball he drove out with Hibs keeper Julian Spiteri beaten. Floriana paid dearly for this miss as in Hib’s next attack they doubled through Matthew Gauci after he was put through by Andre’ Farrugia.

On 16 minutes, Orianski Buhagiar was fouled by a Hibs defender about one metre inside the penalty area and to the amazement of all present, the referee ordered a freekick one metre outside the area. It is amazing how assistant Fyodor Zammit, standing about two metres away from the incident, did not draw the referee’s attention that Buhagiar was tripped inside the area.

Two minutes before half time, Bertrand Duncan obtained his personal brace and his side’s third goal after being put through by Gauci beating Green’s keeper Daniel Said with a hard grounder.

Five minutes after restart, after a shot by Balzia, Hib’s defender Daniel Grima nearly committed an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball.

On 40 minutes, Floriana pulled one back through Grioli who first timed the ball from inside the area after an Alan Abela freekick shot.

Hibs resumed their pressure, a cross-shot by Randall Refalo hit the side netting and a shot by Tristan Caruana missed the upright.

Referee: Joseph Bartolo

Player of the match: Matthew Gucci (Paola H)

APS Bank U/14 Section A

Melita 1

Valletta 1

A very keen and action-packed game watched by a sizeable crowd. After a balanced first period, Melita had the lion’s share of exchanges after restart.

City keeper Clive Caruana saved a freekick shot by Michael Formosa and also neutralized a cross by Andrea Muscat.

A freekick shot by Bydasser Sammut was deflected to a corner by a Melita defender. On 15 minutes, Valletta nearly opened the score after a choral move. Adrian Carabott square-passed to Sammut, the latter back-heeled to Tonio McKay who missed the bar by inches with Melita keeper Justin Attard Montalto beaten.

A Muscat dangerous cross was cleared to safety by Valletta defender Yesseous Camilleri and Caruana foiled Muscat with a timely sortie after being put through by Philip Zammit.

On 24 minutes, the woodwork denied Melita. Daniel Bonnici served Timothy Hampton from a freekick and from the latter’s shot the ball thumped the bar with Caruana beaten.

The amateurs resumed their pressure after the break. Substitute Tobias Terpougoff put Steven Micallef through but Caruana foiled him with a timely sortie and later saved a freekick shot by Andre’ Falzon.

Steven Micallef then put Terpougoff through but drove out when well placed.

On 49 minutes, Melita opened the score.

Terpougoff crossed to Jordan Camilleri who scored with a hard grounder after the ball was partially cleared.

Just before the final whistle, Valletta equalised when Bydasser Sammut was tripped in the area by a Melita defender and the same player converted the result penalty.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Player of the match: Andrea Muscat (Melita)