Section A third place Mosta qualified to play in the semi-final against San Gwann after beating Section B side Attard without any difficulty.

Had they taken all the chances they created, the final score would have been different.

Mosta dominated the first period with Attard creating only three chances when acting on the break. James Scerri served Lyden Micallef with a through ball, the latter returned the compliment and his shot was deflected to a corner. From Scerri’s flagkick Ismael Grech headed well off target. Attard keeper Karl Bugeja saved a Micallef shot after a solo run down the left flank and later a header by Gianluca Vella after a Scerri corner kick.

On 10 minutes Mosta drew first blood. From another Scerri well-taken flagkick Micallef headed beautifully in, and the same player had a cross from the left cleared by a defender minutes later.

After Kurt Zahra was fouled outside Mosta’s area, the same player drove over the bar from the freekick. In a rare Attard attack Owen Tabone served Kurt Zahra with a through pass but Mosta keeper Jurgen Muscat foiled him with a timely sortie.

The score became 2-0 on 23 minutes. A lobbed ball in the area by Barr, Attard defender Kurt Cortis handled the ball and Scerri made no mistake from the spot.

Bugeja then saved in two attempts a cross shot by Micallef after a through pass by Russell Marmara. The last action before the break came from Attard. Zahra put Andre Borg through the latter crossed to Rowen Bugeja with Muscat partially saving his shot and a defender cleared to safety.

Four minutes after restart Attard reduced the deficit. From a Kurt Zahra freekick the ball was deflected into the net by a Mosta defender.

Two minutes later the woodwork denied Mosta a third goal when from a rising shot by Stefan Debattista the ball hit the under-part of the crossbar, landed on the goal line and was cleared. Mosta resumed with their pressing, a cross by Marmara was partially cleared and the rebound shot by Micallef missed the upright.

The woodwork denied Mosta again on 42 minutes. Gianluca Vella served substitute Alex Cini with a square pass and from the latter’s shot the ball thumped the bar and was cleared.

On 46 minutes Mosta scored a third goal. From a Scerri freekick Marmara headed the ball goalwards with Bugeja failing in his grasp despite diving full length. The last action was a freekick shot by Chris Micallef and a Mosta defender headed the ball away.

Referee: Chris Borg

Player of the match: Lyden Micallef (Mosta)

* * *

Kirkop 0

Paola H. 3

Section A winners Paola H qualified for the semi-final against Section C winners Kirkop U making sure of the result in the first period. They will now cross swords against Pieta H.

As expected Paola H took the initiative from the very first whistle. After only five minutes Tristen Caruana served Bertrand Duncan with a through pass and his shot hit the bar with Kirkop keeper Paulseph Cutajar beaten and on 10 minutes they forged ahead from a freekick shot by Caruana from outside the area with the ball finishing in the net in-off the head of Kirkop player Berton Grech. From a Caruana cross from the right to Elkien Cauchi the ball was cleared after the latter’s shot from outside the area.

The score became 2-0 on 15 minutes as Tristen Caruana square-passed to Andre’ Farrugia whose cross-shot from the right completely deceived the Kirkop keeper.

Four minutes later Kirkop were unlucky not to have pulled one back when the ball hit the base of the upright from a 20-metre freekick shot by Daniel Scicluna with Paola keeper Julian Spiteri completely beaten.

A third goal was netted on 21 minutes. Randall Refalo served Caruana with a cross from the right. The latter’s shot hit the bar and Bertrand Duncan was on hand and unmarked in the goal area to head in the rebound. The last action before the break also came from Paola H when from a Caruana corner kick Yan Cauchi headed just out.

Assured of the result the Paolites reduced their pressing in the second half.

The first action came from Kirkop, a cross from the right by Daniel Scicluna towards Antonio Torrdino who was pushed in the area but the referee saw nothing wrong. Paola H created two actions in succession within minutes. Elkien Cauchi crossed to Caruana who drove over the bar, and Caruana crossed to Refalo who also drove over the bar. In a Kirkop attack Agius crossed from the right to Callus but Paola keeper Spiteri saved his shot.

Referee: Franco Cachia

Player of the match: Tristen Caruana (Paola H)

After the match Andrew Attard, manager, APS Bank presented the Section A cup to Paola H.

* * *

Other quarter final results

Pieta H-St Patrick 5-1; San Gwann-Rabat D 1-0

Under 16 Section A

Pieta H-Sliema W. 1-2

Pieta protested against the eligibility of foreign players. Pieta won the protest and Sliema appealed. Section winner will be decided depending on the outcome of the appeal.

Under 14 semi finals:

Today

Luxol Ground 2.30pm Mosta vs San Gwann; 4pm Paola H vs Pieta H