APS Bank U-16 Section A

Birkirkara 8

Qormi 0

The final result is a very clear indication of the vast difference between the two teams. Qormi suffered a second consecutive defeat and they seem to have an uphill task competing in Section A. Debutant referee Johann Abela must improve on his performance as he was rarely up with play, his physical fitness is very lacking and must improve on it. He can also do better with a good quality whistle.

Qormi created the first action. Glenn Zammit served Luke Azzopardi with a through ball but his shot missed the upright. The Stripes soon reacted and created four actions in succession. Rowen Muscat put Clint Zammit through and the latter’s cross was cleared by a defender and in a similar action Zammit’s shot finished over the bar. Berton Catania then put Mark Sammut through and the latter’s cross finished over the bar and from a Carl Bonavia corner kick Qormi keeper Franklin Scerri saved a header by Andreas Galea.

On nine minutes the Stripes opened the score from a perfect set-piece that must have been well rehearsed. Carl Montebello put Diansand Brincat through, the latter was fouled outside the area, Mark Sammut served Bonavia with a low pass from the free kick and from his cross Keith Fenech headed past Scerri from inside the area. Four minutes later the score became 2-0. Clint Zammit dribbled past a defender down the right flank and square-passed to Brincat who scored with a rising shot from outside the area.

Scerri then saved on Sammut and Birkirkara netted a third goal on 24 minutes. Catania served Brincat with a perfect through ball who netted from inside the area, and in a rare Qormi attack stripes keeper Christian Francica fisted the ball away from a cross by Jurgen Gerada. The fourth goal was scored from the penalty spot as Fenech was tripped in the area and the same player sent the keeper the wrong way of the ball from the spot-kick a minute before half time, and just before the half time whistle the score became.5-0 when Brincat pounced on a defensive indecision and after dribbling past the onrushing Scerri he placed the ball in the net.

The Stripes dominated the second period with Qormi trying to act on the break. A Zammit free kick shot missed Qormi’s bar by inches. From a Sammut cross a header by Catania was partially saved by Scerri and the ball was cleared and after a cross by Substitute Charlo Sammut a first-timer by Catania finished slightly over the bar. Between the 55th and 59th minutes Fenech scored twice from crosses by Brincat and Zammit respectively and Andrew Scicluna, up with his forwards scored the eighth goal after a Zammit cross.

Referee: Johann Abela

Player of Match: Keith Fenech(Birkirkara)

APS Bank U-16 Section A

Floriana 2

Mellieha 2

Three red cards, two penalties and inefficient control by the referee who at times walked the game, characterised this game. Floriana managed to salvage a point playing with nine men for the last 16 minutes.

The Greens created the first two occasions. After Dylan Balzia was fouled outside the area, from a free kick shot by Neville Mifsud, Mellieha keeper Kristian Fenech saved a header by Franridge Schembri and after a Frederick Grech flag-kick Fenech saved on Andrea Grech. At the other end, a free kick shot by Mark Vella sailed over the bar.

Floriana again started pressing their opponents. Orianski Buhagiar put Balzia through, the latter crossed to Grech who drove out from close range, Grech served Schembri with a through pass but Fenech foiled him with a timely sortie, after Schembri was fouled a free kick shot by Owen Bugeja was cleared by a defender and from a long throw-in by Mifsud, Grech headed to Schembri who headed just over the bar. Mellieha reacted when Brendan Zammit square-passed to Steven Grima who drove out from outside the area. Before the break Floriana created another two occasions. After a solo run down the right flank a shot by Grech missed the bar by inches and Buhagiar served Schembri with a through ball but the latter’s cross found no takers in the area.

Mellieha created the first occasion after restart as a free kick shot by Mark Vella was saved by Greens keeper Kyle Gerada. Buhagiar then served Grech with a perfect through ball in the area but with an open goal at his mercy he unbelievably drove out. Kurt Dimech put Grech through but a defender cleared his shot to a corner.

On 53 minutes Floriana opened the score. Schembri crossed from the left to Grech who was tripped in the area and Owen Bugeja made no mistake from the spot. Three minutes later Floriana were reduced to ten men as Grech was shown the red card after a second booking. On 58 minutes Glenn Vella was put through in Floriana’s area and tackled by Owen Bugeja lost control of the ball, he dived and the referee who was close to the action awarded a penalty instead of a yellow card for simulation and Zachary Sammut leveled the score from the spot.

On 64 minutes Franridge Schembri was put through in Mellieha’s area and was clearly tripped from behind in full view of the referee who waved play on. This decision infuriated the Floriana supporters and the referee capped an afternoon’s bad work by expelling Michael Farrugia from Floriana’s substitutes bench.

A minute later Floriana were reduced to nine men as Kevin Pace was shown the red card for arguing. On 70 minutes Mellieha took the lead when Brendan Zammit pounced on a defensive indecision and scored from outside the area.

Despite being with nine men Floriana still managed to pres their opponents. A free kick shot by Owen Bugeja missed Mellieha’s upright by inches and in the last minute of normal time they managed to equalise when Patrick Grech was put through on the left flank and after entering the area netted with a low shot. In the first minute of added time the referee showed the red care to Mellieha player Alister Attard after a second yellow card.

Referee: Jonathan Bonello

Player of Match: Orianski Buhagiar (Floriana)