APS Bank U/16 Section A

St Patrick 2

Floriana 5

Floriana ended their commitments with a convincing victory against relegated St Patrick. The Greens dominated the first period during which they scored four goals. St Patrick are to be commended for their never-say-die spirit as they kept trying till the very end. I sincerely wish them a quick return to Section A.

The first action came from Floriana as Franridge Schembri served Russell Formosa on the right flank and a defender cleared the latter’s cross to a corner. At the other end, Kirsten Muscat served Jacob Camilleri in the area but a defender cleared his shot to a corner.

In the fifth minute Floriana opened the score. Russell Formosa served Mauro Grioli with a square pass who in turn back-passed the ball to Kurt Dimech who, standing on the edge of the area, gave Saints keeper Kevin Mercieca no chance with a hard drive.

Encouraged by such an early lead, Floriana kept pressing their opponents and created three actions in succession.Neville Mifsud served Grioli in the of the area but Neil Spiteri foiled him from concluding with a timely tackle, Kurt Dimech served Marmara with a through ball, the latter served Grioli on the right flank and from his cross Schembri headed out. In their next move Floriana doubled the score. Schembri was fouled by Justin Zammit outside St Patrick area and from the resultant free-kick Karl Grech netted with a high shot as the Saints keeper fumbled the ball.

St Patrick reacted as Owen Mizzi served Wayne Caruana with a through ball on the right flank and Greens keeper Kyle Gerada saved his dangerous cross-shot.

The score became 3-0 on 23 minutes after a choral move which involved three players. Grioli set Marmara on the right flank and from his cross Orianski Buhagiar netted with a low first-timer from inside the area.

Hardly two minutes later it was 4-0 when Karl Grech pounced on a loose ball in the Saints half, entered the area after beating a defender and netted with a low shot.

Five minutes before the break St Patrick pulled one back. Glenn Saliba served Wayne Caruana with a long throw-in in the area and he scored with a half volley past a helpless Gerada.

The last action before the break came from Floriana when the ball was partially cleared after a flag kick by Karl Greek and substitute Sean Micallef missed the bar from the rebound.

Floriana started well after the restart. Schembri served Marmara with a cross from the right flank, Mercieca partially saved his header and the ball was cleared by a defender.

Mercieca was again called in action when he foiled Marmara with a timely sortie after he was put through by Buhagiar. The Saints did not throw the towel but kept trying.

Owen Mizzi served substitute Kurt Zammit with a through ball, the latter served Kirsten Muscat in the area and Gerada saved his shot to a corner.

Wayne Caruana then served Kurt Zammit in the area and a defender was forced to clear his shot to a corner.

On 59 minutes St Patrick again reduced the gap with an identical move of their first goal. Neil Spiteri served the hard-working Wayne Caruana with a long throw-in in the area and once again he scored to make it 2-4.

But hardly a minute later Floriana scored a fifth goal as Kevin Pace served Buhagiar with a through ball outside the Saints area, substitute keeper Jonathan Grech could only partially save his shot and Marmara blasted the ball in the net from the rebound.

St Patrick kept trying to the very end and created some chances before the final whistle, but failed to change the scoreline.

Referee:Chris Francalanza

Player of match: Wayne Caruana (St Patrick)

APS Bank U/16 Section B

Valletta 3

Naxxar Lions 1

Section winners Valletta managed to hold on to their unbeaten record but Naxxar gave them a good run for their money. They were reduced to ten men after only ten minutes following a very harsh decision by referee Thomas Debono.

Naxxar were the first to threaten. From a Gerald Sant free-kick the ball was cleared to a corner and from the flag kick by Neil Gatt the ball was headed away by a defender. Sant then served Jurgen Balzan with a through ball on the right flank, the latter crossed to Adrian Fenech but City keeper Clive Caruana foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie.

Valletta soon reacted. After Tishchenko was put through outside Naxxar’s area he was tackled from behind by Bernard Abela and the referee brandished the red card, a very harsh decision as he did not spoil a clear opportunity of scoring. From the free kick shot by Dylon Grima, Naxxar keeper Bjorn Attard saved to a corner.

In the 28th minute Valletta opened the score. Dylan Grima floated a perfect ball in the area from a free-kick and from a header by Bydasser Sammut the ball thumped against the bar with Attard beaten and Yessous Camilleri shot into the net from the rebound.

On 30 minutes we witnessed a very strange decision by assistant Claudio Mangion. Tishchenko served Carabott on the right edge inside the area, as he tried to shoot at goal he was tackled by Jurgen Balzan and both players ended on the ground with the ball sandwiched between them. Claudio Mangion, to the amazement of all present flagged for a handling infringement and the referee awarded a penalty to Valletta after consulting him.The kick was taken by Karl Zammit but Attard turned the ball to a corner with a diving save.

The woodwork denied Valletta in the 34th minute on a Grima free-kickbut a minute later they doubled the score as Sammut had a solo run down the right flank and from his cross Justin Muscat netted from inside the area, and two minutes before the break Valletta were once again denied by the woodwork when Kurt Attard served Tishchenko with a square pass and from his hard drive the ball hit the base of the upright with Attard completely beaten. The Citizens kept pressing their opponents after resumption but Naxxar reduced the gap on 61 minutes. A one-two between Adrian Fenech and Anthony Spiteri finished with the latter scoring with a low shot from inside the area.

But five minutes later Valletta put the issue beyond any doubt with a choral move involving three players.Glen Agius served Tishchenko with a square pass who in turn served Sammut in the area and netted with a hard grounder.

Referee: Thomas Debono

Player of match: Yessous Camilleri (Valletta)

Youth F A U/14 Knock Out

Floriana are through to the semi finals after beating Paola Hibs 4-3 on penalties. The match ended goalless after extra time.

Six penalties had to be taken by each team as the score stood at 3-3 after the taking of five penalty kicks. Floriana managed to score the sixth penalty while Paola H failed to score the sixth penalty as it was saved by Greens keeper Daniel Said who also saved another two during the taking of the first five penalty kicks.

This quarter final was played on Tuesday at the Luxol Ground.

In the other quarter final played on the same date and venue Mellieha beat Naxxar 1-0.