APS Bank U/16 Section A

Hamrun S 2

Sirens 0

The final result does not reflect the true difference between the two teams. Had Hamrun taken all the chances they created the final score would have been much different.

This was Hamrun’s first win from six games having only five points. The game was dominated by the Spartans as Sirens were never in the game, Spartans keeper Lee Garrard could have stayed at home as he only dealt with back-passes from his colleagues. The north sea-siders are still pointless from six games and seem to be heading for a quick return to Section B next season.

The onslaught by Hamrun started as early as the third minute. From a free kick shot by Kyle Civelli the ball was cleared to a comer and from the flag kick by the same player the ball was cleared to another corner.

From a Chris Cardona cross from the right the ball was partly cleared and Sirens keeper Clayton Sammut saved the rebound shot by Ryan Refalo, and minutes later he saved a free kick by Civelli after Cardona was fouled outside the area.

A free kick by Brady Parnis was partly cleared and the ball missed the upright from the rebound by Craig De Battista.

In the 15th minute Ryan Cardona should have opened the score but he drove over the bar from an ideal position after a perfect cross from the right by Parnis, Cardona then served Refalo in the area but a defender cleared the ball to a corner from his shot.

In the 25th minute Hamrun deservedly opened the score with a choral move which involved three players. Cardona crossed from the right to Civelli who in turn served Glenn Frendo with a through ball in the area and netted with a rising shot.

Hamrun resumed with their pressing and created two actions before the break; Civelli served Yoran Camilleri with a through ball on the left flank but the Sirens keeper neutralized the ball from the latter’s cross and Cardona entered the area after beating two defenders on the right flank, he served Refalo with a perfect cross but Sammut turned his shot to a corner.

The second period was a carbon copy of the first with Hamrun pressing their opponents by creating an action after another. De Battista served Frendo in the area and Sammut denied him with a diving save. Parnis served Cardona with a through ball in the area but Tyrone Sammut cleared the ball to a corner. Camilleri served Cardona in the area but he drove slightly over the bar, the same player, a few minutes later, missed the upright after a Refalo cross from the right.

Frendo served Refalo with a through ball outside the area, the latter served Camilleri in the area and his shot was cleared to a corner which was taken by Civelli and the ball was cleared to another corner.

Hamrun doubled the score in the 64th minute. Camilleri served Cardona with a through ball on the right flank who then crossed to substitute Darren Rapa who scored with a low shot from inside the area. Assured of the result, Hamrun eased their pressing and created only two occasions before the final whistle. Civelli served Parnis in the area but a defender cleared his shot to a corner and De Battista served Rapa with a short free kick pass, he served Frendo in the area and the ball hit the base of the upright from his shot and finished out.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Player of match: Kyle Civelli (Hamrun S)

APS Bank U/16 Section B

Mellieha 0

Qormi 4

Qormi deserved the verdict as they were the more effective side with their positional play and precise passing. They are now on 10 points from five games. Mellieha tried very hard to act on the break through Isaac Sammut and Albert Aquilina but they found little or no help from their teammates, they have only one point from three games.

The Yellow/blacks took an early lead in the seventh minute with a choral move involving three players. Glenn Zammit served Jurgen Stanyer with a through ball on the left flank who then crossed to Jurgen Gerada in the area who netted with a rising shot.

Qormi resumed with their pressing and after a flag kick by George Chircop, Stanyer headed slightly out from inside the area and a free kick shot by Carmelo Farrugia was cleared away with difficulty.

The score became 2-0 in the 16th minute, Gerada served Zammit with a through ball in the area who scored with a low shot. Three minutes later the ball was cleared from over the fatal line, with Mellieha keeper Kurt Sammut beaten from a lobbed ball by Zammit after a Gerada through ball in the area.

In the 21st minute Sammut partially saved a shot by Zammit and from the rebound shot by the same player the ball was cleared on the line.

Mellieha created the last three actions before the break. Daniel Vella served Isaac Sammut with a through ball on the right flank but Qormi keeper Eman Ellul neutralised the ball from the latter’s cross. After Albert Aquilina was fouled on the left edge of the area, he served Isaac Sammut in the area but he failed to control the ball when well-placed in the area And after Mauro Calleja was fouled outside the area the ball missed the upright by inches from the free kick shot by Ryan Vella.

Five minutes after restart the score became 3-0. Zammit served Ranier Buhagiar with a perfect through ball in the area but he was tripped by Daniel Vella and Gerada made no mistake from the spot with a hard drive. Six minutes later Qormi scored a fourth goal. Gerada served Stanyer in the area who after dribbling past the onrushing keeper he scored with a grounder.

A Qormi defender then cleared the ball away after a free kick shot by Ryan Vella and another defender did like-wise after a well-taken flag kick by Mauro Calleja.

The last two actions before the end came from Qormi. Substitute Daniel Ablett crossed the ball from the right flank which was partially cleared by a defender and Sammut saved the rebound shot by substitute Luke Azzopardi and after Gabriel Buttigieg served Azzopardi in the area he drove over the bar from a very ideal position.

Referee: Jurgen Meli

Player of the match: Jurgen Gerada (Qormi)