APS Bank U/16 Section B
Attard 3
Zurrieq 1
A very keen game with both sides having their good moments. Attard managed to win the three points despite playing with 10 men for 42 minutes.
Attard created the first occasion. A free-kick shot by Daniel Agius was headed away by a defender and Zurrieq keeper Anthony Camilleri saved on Kyle Schembri after a Mark Saliba square pass.
From a free-kick by Michael Abdilla, Mauro Gauci heades over Attard’s bar, at the other end Mark Bonnici Vella put Matthew Scerri through and his shot missed Zurrieq’s upright and from a through pass by Schembri Attard’ keeper Chris Cini saved on Matthew Fenech.
On 21 minutes Attard opened the score. Schembri served Marck Saliba with a through ball and after entering the area he scored with a low shot in-off the base of the upright.
Camilleri then neutralised a cross by Daniel Agius and a free-kick by the same player was partially cleared and Camilleri saved the rebound shot by Carl Pace.
Zurrieq equalised on 38 minutes. Alexei Saliba crossed to Robert Chigo, the latter square-passed to Keith Callus who shot past Cini with a grounder but hardly a minute later Attard regained their lead as Mark Saliba had a run down the left flank and square-passed to Carl Pate who scored with a low shot.
Two minutes from half time Attard were reduced to ten men as Josef Camilleri was shown the red card for swearing.
Zurrieq created the first occasions after restart. Cini save in two attempts, a cross-shot by Michael Abdilla, turned to corner u shot by Karl Sacco after a Saliba free kick and saved a rebound shot by Abdilla after a Hag kick by Saliba was partially cleared.
In Attard’s first attack they scored a third goal. Mark Saliba put Matthew Scerri through who scored with a low shot from inside the area.
Attard resumed their pressure. Saliba was put through in the area, his shot hit the base of the upright and the ball was cleared. Cini foiled Scerri with a timely sortie after a Saliba through ball, substitute Luke Bugeja failed to apply the killer touch after a Saliba cross.
Two minutes before the end the woodwork denied Zurrieq a second goal when a shot by Michael Abdilla hit the upright after a Saliba cross.
Referee: Chris Francalanza
Player of the match: Mark Saliba (Attard)
APS Bank U/16 Section B
St Andrews 1
St Patrick 2
A very keen and action-packed game watched by a sizeable crowd. St Patrick are now sole leaders on 41 points from 17 games. Debutant referee Chris Borg had a difficult encounter to control,
The first period was a balanced affair. Josmar Albani put Dillon Vella through and St Andrews keeper Alexei Cauchi had to dive and save his shot, al the other end, Andrew Camilleri Kamsky put Nigel Ellul Sullivan through and St Patrick keeper Danny Scicluna neutralised the latter’s cross and from a flag-kick by Michaul Ellul, a header by Simon Psaila was cleared on the goal-line.
St Patrick reacted immediately, Shawn Cucciardi put Albani through and Cauchi saved his shot in two attempts and on 12 minutes they forged ahead. After an Albani flag-kick, Alex Vella rose above friend and foe to head beautiful in the top left hand comer of the net. and a minute later Albani should have added another but he skied the ball after a Clive Grima cross,
On 22 minutes St Patrick doubled. Alex Vella won a bait in midfield, advanced and put Albani through who scored with a low shot.
From a flag-kick by Michael Ellul, Scicluna had to fist the ball away to safety and a Simon Psaila free kick was headed away by a St Patrick defender.
St Andrews pulled one back on 29 minutes through Michael Calleja after a Mark Grech through pass.
The final two actions before half time came from St Andrews. Scicluna saved in two attempts, a free kick shot by Michael Ellul and a Hag kick by the same player who cleared to another corner.
St Andrews were all out for the equaliser after resumption and created more occasions. Scicluna saved a Michael Ellul free-kick, and in a St Patrick counter-attack, an Albani cross was cleared to a corner.
Mark Grech put Michael Calleja through. Scicluna partially saved his shot and a defender cleared the ball to safety and a free kick shot by Timothy Martin was cleared to a comer and also a cross by Benjamin Diacono was cleared to crner after a Psaila through pass.
In a St Patrick rare attack, Alex Vella put Karl Bonavia through, his shot hit the upright with Cauchi beaten and the ball was cleared.
From a Martin free-kick, Scicluna saved on Diacono and after an Ellul corner kick Scicluna saved a header by Chris Dalli.
Just before the end, a free kick shot by Glen Saliba the ball was partially cleared and Cauchi saved the rebound shot by Alex Vella.
Referee: Chris Borg
Player of the match: Micheal Elllul (St Andrews)