APS Bank U-14 Section A
St Andrew’s 2
Pieta Hotspurs 1
After a yawn-laden first period, the game came into life after resumption during which the three goals were scored.
St Andrews’ played a gallant game as they were quicker on the ball, sharper in their moves and more accurate in their passing. They played the whole second half with a man less.
Pieta created the first occasion through David Caruana who, after outspeeding two opponents on the right flank, he executed a perfect cross but Saints keeper Gianni Fino neutralised the ball.
St Andrews’ reacted with Kurt Galea serving Michael Grima with a through ball in the area but Pieta keeper Samuel Bartolo foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie.
Glenn Fenech then served Michael Grima again in the area and this time Bartolo had to come out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.
Later, from a well-taken free kick by Thomas Naudi, the ball was headed away by a defender, the ball went to Matthew Agius who served Caruana on the left flank but the ball finished over the bar from his cross.
Pieta resumed with their pressing and created all the actions up to the half time whistle.
Caruana served Randell Refalo with a through ball but William Camilleri foiled him from progressing with a timely tackle.
Matthew Aquilina crossed for Caruana’s header to be saved by Fino and from an Agius corner kick Ismael Grech headed over the bar.
Just after the half time whistle the referee showed the red card to Nicky Vella Petroni for uttering offensive language towards the official.
St Andrews’ forged ahead in the 46th minute. Andrew Amato won a loose ball in Pieta’s half, and served Matthew Fenech in the area who scored with a rising shot past a helpless Bartolo.
Their joy was short-lived as two minutes later Pieta equalised. Caruana served Clifford Gauci with a cross from the left who netted with a hard grounder from outside the area.
With hardly a minute from the final whistle St Andrews scored a dramatic winner. Edward Grima was served from a long clearance on the right flank by Kurt Galea and after advancing and outspeeding a defender in the process, he served substitute Edward Mercieca in the area who scored with a low shot to the joy of the Saints supporters who turned up in good numbers.
Referee:Trustan Farrugia Player of the match:Edward Grima (St Andrews)
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APS Bank U-14 Section A
Floriana 1
Naxxar L 3
Newly-promoted Naxxar deserved the verdict as they were the better outfit during the whole 60 minutes, being sharper in their moves, quick on the ball and very precise in their passing. It will be no surprise that if th
ey maintain the form shown last Sunday they will be hot favourites to challenge for Section honours.
The Greens have to improve on their performance as they were very slow in their approach and their passing was very erratic.
The first action came from Floriana through Christopher Grech who after a run down the left flank crossed the ball but it was easily neutralised by Naxxar keeper Andrea Bugeja who was unhindered.
The first real threat came from Naxxar in the third minute when John Debono served Dylan Debono in the area and the ball missed the upright by inches. Floriana went close a minute later when Zack Mizzi served Sacha Borg in the area and the ball brushed the crossbar from his shot with Bugeja beaten.
Bugeja then neutralised a cross by Brooke Farrugia after he was put through on the right flank by Karl Dalli, and at the other end, a free kick by John Debono missed Floriana’s upright by inches.
On 24 minutes Naxxar opened the score. John Debono served Clyde Bonavia with a through ball. The latter entered the area after outspeeding the slow Floriana defenders and netted with a lobbed ball from inside the area past a helpless Jacques Grima.
After the restart Zack Mizzi crossed the ball after a run down the left flank but found no takers in Naxxar’s area. The score became 2-0 on 38 minutes and it was again Clyde Bonavia who scored after being put through by Jason Camilleri.
Floriana tried very hard to reduce the deficit but the Lions rearguard was a very hard nut to crack.
Bugeja saved in two attempts a shot by Dalli. They managed to pull one back on 40 minutes when they won a corner kick on the left flank and Dalli netted direct from the flag kick with a screw-shot.
A free-kick by Sacha Borg was blocked by the Lions defensive barrier and the ball missed the bar by inches from a shot by the same player.
Two minutes before normal time Naxxar put the issue beyond any doubt when Jason Camilleri served Kyle Agius with a through ball in Naxxar’s half and after entering the area he netted with a low shot.
Referee: Roberto Vella
Player of the match: Clyde Bonavia (Naxxar L)