APS Bank Under 16 Section B

The final result does not reflect the true difference between the two teams as Naxxar created much more chances than Marsaxlokk and they were also denied by the woodwork on one occasion. Young referee Andrew J. Sammut had good control of the proceedings and is improving game after game.

The first action came from Naxxar as Jurgen Balzan crossed from the right to Anthony Spiteri but Giulio Farrugia foiled him from concluding with a perfect and timely tackle, at the other end, James Zerafa served Christopher Bugeja with a through ball in the area and the ball from his shot hit the base of the upright with Naxxar keeper Jonathan Bilocca beaten. Naxxar’s reaction was a through pass by Kurt Farrugia to Jurgen Balzan and from the latter’s cross Giulio Farrugia handled the ball on the left edge of the area and the ball was cleared after the freekick shot by Kurt Farrugia.

Marsaxlokk keeper Luca Bugeja neutralised a dangerous cross from the right by Anthony Spiteri after he was served with a through ball by Anton Micallef while at the other end, Shaun Camilleri handled the ball outside the area and Bilocca saved the free-kick by James Zerafa.

The south seasiders came very close to scoring four minutes before the break when Christopher Bugeja served Russell Tabone with a square pass and his shot from inside the area missed the upright by inches.

The last action before the break came from Naxxar as Russell Tabone handled the ball on the right edge of the area and from Farrugia’s free-kick, Bugeja was forced to fist the ball away to safety.

Four minutes after restart Naxxar opened the score. Karl Tanti served Adrian Fenech with a through ball in Marsaxlokk’s half and he netted a beauty with a strong rising shot from 30 metres. In an effort by Marsaxlokk to obtain an equaliser they mounted two attacks in succession but Bilocca was able to save Bugeja’s weak shot, and in their next action they were denied by the woodwork as the ball hit the base of the upright, with Bilocca beaten, from a Steve Scicluna shot.

Naxxar’s reaction was very prompt. Jurgen Balzan served Anthony Spiteri in the area but he drove well over the bar from a very good position and Karl Tanti served Balzan with a through ball in the area and Bugeja had to dive to save his shot.

Bilocca was also forced to dive to save a shot by Tabone after he was put through in the area by James Zerafa.

Marsaxlokk came very close to equalise in the 72nd minute as Bilocca had to dive and save a shot from outside the area by Tabone and five minutes before the end Marsaxlokk were very unlucky when the ball was cleared on the fatal line from a Tabone shot after a perfect through ball by Jean Claude Vella.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

Player of the match: Guilio Farrugia (Marsaxlokk)

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St Venera 1

Tarxien R 1

A draw was a fair result in this game where no team dominated the other and both had their good moments. The strong wind at St Aloysius ground rendered ball control very difficult, but as the game progressed the ball was played on the ground and short passing from both teams was a delight to watch.

St Venera created the first action when Karl Cilia floated a perfect ball from a free-kick in Tarxien’s area, Charlton Scicluna passed the ball to Keith Attard but he drove over the bar from a very good position. At the other end, Edmund Vassallo won a loose ball in St Venera’s area and St Venera keeper Warren Cuschieri had to tip the ball over the bar after the latter’s shot from outside the area.

The Saints threatened again as Scicluna served Spiteri on the right flank but the latter’s cross found no takers in Tarxien’s area. But in their next move in the 19th minute they opened the score. Karl Spiteri served Keith Attard in the area, Tarxien keeper Luke Caruana partially saved the latter’s shot and Wayne Portelli was on hand to shoot in the rebound. Tarxien went straight on the offensive in search of an equaliser. Ryan Previ served Warren Zerafa with a square pass in the area and St Venera keeper Warren Cuschieri saved his shot and moments later he had to come out of his charge to kick the ball upfield thus foiling Zerafa from concluding after he was put through by Previ, from the same clearance, Charlton Scicluna was put through in Tarxien’s half and he served Rudi Carbonaro through and the Tarxien keeper had to come out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.

Dione Vella was then fouled just outside Tarxien’s area and from the free-kick, shot by the same player, the ball missed the upright by inches.

The first two actions after restart came from St Venera. Keith Attard entered the area after beating two defenders, his shot was deflected by a defender and the ball was saved by Caruana. After a run down the right flank, Portelli executed a perfect cross which found no takers and a defender cleared the ball to safety.

Tarxien equalised on the hour. Ryan Previ served Warren Zerafa with a square pass who served the same player with a through ball in the area and scored with a low shot.

Encouraged by the equaliser, Tarxien created further chances but were held out by the St Venera keeper. Tarxien reacted again and created the last two actions before the final whistle. After a run down the left flank, Vassallo served Warren Zerafa with a perfect cross in the area but he miscued his shot from a very ideal position and a good chance went astray and after a well-taken Scicluna free-kick, Cuschieri had to dive and save a header by Warren Zerafa.

Referee: Matthew Vella

Player of the match: Keith Attard (St Venera)

Readers are notified that Smash TV broadcasts a full programme on Football Nurseries every Tuesday at 7.30pm. It is repeated on Saturdays at 5pm. The programme is presented by Mario Pisani.