APS Bank U/16 Section B

The Paolites were the better outfit throughout the whole game and fully deserved the verdict and following this result they are in joint second place with Pieta’ on 31 points from 15 games while Melita are in sixth place on 19 points from same number of points.

The first action came from Melita when a freekick shot by Luke Micallef was cleared to a corner and at the other end, a freekick shot by Vincent Zahra was headed away by a defender. Andre Farrugia served Matthew Gauci with a through ball in the area but the latter’s shot was cleared to a corner.

In a Melita counter-attack they won a corner kick on the right flank which was taken by Andrea Muscat, the ball was partially cleared and Hibs keeper Daniel Balzan saved the rebound shot by Matthias Fenech. The Paolites then created three occasions in succession, Matthew Gauci served Jonathan Xerri with a through ball on the left flank, the latter square-passed to Gauci and Melita keeper Justin Attard Montalto saved his cross-shot, Gauci again served Xerri in the area and Attard Montalto denied him with a diving save and Xerri shot over the bar after a Gauci well-taken corner kick.

Five minutes before the interval Hibs opened the score. After a run down the left flank by Xerri he served Sammy Piscopo with a cross and he scored with a low shot from close range. Melita created the last action before the break as Daniel Bianco served Andrea Muscat with a through ball but Balzan saved the latter’s shot from outside the area.

The first three actions after restart came Melita. Tobias Terpougoff won a tussle on the left flank against Andre’ Farrugia and after advancing his cross-shot missed the upright, Fenech served Andrea Muscat with a through ball, the latter returned the compliment to Luke Micallef in the area who missed the upright from an ideal position and a Muscat freekick shot was partially cleared and Balzan saved the rebound shot by Terpougoff.

Melita equalised in the 51st minute with a choral move involving three players. Fenech served Micallef with a through ball on the right flank and from the latter’s cross Muscat netted with a low shot from inside the area. Their joy lasted only seven minutes as Hibs restored their slender lead on 58 minutes. Jonathan Xerri, after beating two defenders crossed from the right, a Melita defender sliced his clearance and Peter Paul Sammut made the most of this defensive lapse and netted from close range. It became 3-1 on 62 minutes when from a flagkick by Gauci the ball was headed in the top right hand corner by the towering Xerri who was unmarked and six minutes before the end Hibs scored their fourth and final goal as Xerri entered the area after beating a defender and after Attard Montalto partially saved his shot Gauci was on hand to shoot in the rebound.

Referee – Joe Camilleri

Player of the match – Jonathan Xerri (Paola Hibs)

APS Bank U/6 Section B

Mosta 1

Marsaxlokk 0

The final result does not reflect the true difference between the two teams as Mosta dominated the proceedings throughout the whole game and it was Marsaxlokk keeper Luca Bugeja who saved his side from a much heavier defeat with his saves and timely interceptions.

Mosta occupy second spot on 32 points from 13 games standing a good chance for a quick return to Section A next season, while the south seasiders are sixth from bottom on 17 points from same number of games.

All the actions during the first half were all created by Mosta. Bugeja saved a freekick shot by Sergio Dimech and later also saved a shot from outside the area by Jonathan Muscat after beating a defender, he then foiled Chris Cutajar with a timely sortie after he was put through in the area by Dimech, the same player was served in the area by Muscat and a defender cleared his shot to a corner.

Mosta kept pressing and Cutajar served Alex Cini, grandson of ex-international Joe, with a through ball on the right flank, his cross was cleared to a corner and from the flagkick by the same player a header by Andrew Barr missed the upright.

Cini then served Dimech with a through ball, the latter crossed from the right to Muscat and Bugeja saved his shot from outside the area. The last action before the break was a freekick shot by Chris Sant and Bugeja saved in two attempts.

Though Mosta still held the upper-hand after resumption, Marsaxlokk also had their good moments and eventually created the first action after restart when from a cross from the right by Steve Scicluna, a shot by Chris Bugeja was partially saved by Mosta keeper Jurgen Muscat and the ball was somehow cleared, at the other end, David Causon served Charlton Bugeja on the left flank and Bugeja neutralised his cross.

Marsaxlokk created another action soon after as Chris Bugeja served Russell Tabone with a square pass but he drove out from the edge of the area. Mosta reacted and Cini served Muscat with a through ball in the area, Bugeja partially saved his shot and then saved the rebound shot by the same player.

The woodwork denied Mosta on 64 minutes when a Muscat shot hit the upright with Bugeja beaten after receiving a cross from the right by Cini. Mosta broke the deadlock on 70 minutes. Chris Sant won a loose ball in Marsaxlokk’s half and after beating a defender he served Muscat in the area who made no mistake with a low shot. In a last effort by Marsaxlokk Tristan Agius served Tabone in the area but keeper Muscat foiled him with a timely sortie, and the last two actions before the end came from Mosta as substitute Gianluca Theuma served Muscat in the area but he drove over the bar and Cini, after a solo run down then right flank he executed a perfect cross in the area which found no takers.

Referee -Mohammed Khalid

Player of the match – Jonathan Muscat (Mosta)

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