APS Bank U/16 Section A
Sliema W 0
Valletta 2
Valletta are still unbeaten after three games and their keeper Dunstan Zarb has kept his net intact for 240 minutes, while Sliema suffered a second defeat from four games.
The Citizens were the better outfit -faster on the ball, sharper in their moves and more methodical in their approach. The Blues were rarely in the game and they only managed four shots at goal, two of which came from a free kick.
Valletta opened the score in the 7th minute when Dylan Zammit served Neil Chircop with a through ball in the area who shot past Sliema keeper Nikki Azzopardi, and doubled the score four minutes later as a one-two between Neil Goodlip and Adrian Carabott finished with the latter netting with a low shot after entering the area.
Sliema won a free kick outside the area which was taken by Ray Attard but Yessous Camilleri headed the ball to a corner and Ray Attard served Amadeo Mercieca in the area, the ball was partly cleared from his shot and the rebound shot by Klinsman Grech missed the upright.
Valletta again took the initiative and won a corner kick on the right flank which was well-taken by Chircop and Tonio MacKay shot over the bar from inside the area.
At the other end, Sliema won a free kick from which Ray Attard served Luca Martinelli on the left flank and Zarb neutralised the ball in two attempts from his cross and the last action before the break was created by Valletta, a choral move which involved three players - Lee Camilleri served Bydasser Sammut with a through ball outside Sliema’s area, the latter served Chircop in the area and the ball missed the upright by inches from his shot.
The first action after restart was created by Valletta as Neil Goodlip served Chircop in the area but Azzopardi foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie and at the other end Zarb did likewise to foil Mercieca from concluding after he was served in the area by Klinsman Grech. Chircop then served Lee Camilleri in the area but he was foiled from progressing any further by a timely tackle by Martinelli.
On 58 minutes the woodwork denied Sliema. Mercieca was fouled on the left flank of the area. From the free kick by Grech the ball was cleared to a corner and from the flag kick on the right flank by the same player the ball hit the far post with Zarb beaten. The ball was cleared with difficulty.
Ray Attard then served Luca Mottola with a short free kick but he skied the ball over the bar from the edge of the area.
Valletta again threatened when Carabott served Chircop on the left flank who in turn served substitute Leslie Cassar in the area but Azzopardi managed to neutralise the ball.
Sliema went close to narrow the gap in the first minute of added time as Attard served Mottola with a short free kick: he served Grech in the area but the latter failed to control the ball when he was well-placed in the area.
Referee: Mohammed Khalid
Player of the match: Adrian Carabott (Valletta)
* * *
APS Bank U/16 Section A
Birkirkara 1
Paola H 2
This encounter was a hard-fought game. Paola Hibs are on maximum points from four games while Birkirkara suffered their second defeat from five games.
The first action came from Paola when Andre Farrugia served Matthew Gauci with a through ball in the area and Stripes keeper Christian Francalanza foiled him from concluding by diving at his feet to smother the ball.
At the other end, Wayne Scerri was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by Andreas Galea, Hibs keeper Daniel Balzan turned the ball to a corner. From the flag kick by Lee Borg the ball was cleared with difficulty.
Paola H were awarded a free kick on the left flank, Dylan Sammut served Elkin Cauchi and after beating a defender his cross found no takers in the area.
Paola H opened the score in the 12th minute when Rene Duca served Andre Farrugia in the area who after advancing shot past Francalanza.
A few minutes later Tristen Caruana won a loose ball inside Birkirkara’s half and after beating a defender on the left flank he executed a perfect cross which found no takers in the Stripes area.
Birkirkara equalised in the 26th minute. Keith Fenech served Wayne Scerri with a through ball in the area and after he was tripped, Andreas Galea made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Minutes later Caruana served Andre Farrugia with a perfect through ball in the Stripes area but he failed to get his head to the ball.
The last action before the break came from Birkirkara as Wayne Scerri was fouled on the left flank of the area and Hibs keeper Daniel Balzan saved the free kick by Galea,
Four minutes after restart Tristan Caruana served Yan Cauchi in the area and Francalanza turned his shot to a corner. At the other end, Andreas Galea served Diansand Brincat on the right flank, he served Wayne Scerri with a cross-pass and Balzan partly saved his shot. From the rebound by the same player Elkin Cauchi cleared the ball to corner.
The Stripes kept insisting, and Matthew Cassar served Brincat in the area but he failed to control the ball when standing in an ideal position.
Paola H immediately reacted, substitute Nicholas Bezzina served Farrugia with a through ball on the right flank and from his cross Francalanza neutralised the ball.
Then, Dylan Sammut served Farrugia in the area from a free kick but he failed to apply the killer touch from two metres.
A minute before normal time Paola H scored the winner. Caruana served Bezzina in the area and Francalanza turned his shot to a corner. It was taken by Caruana who served Matthew Cauchi who scored with a rising shot.
In the first minute of added time Birkirkara went very close to obtain the equaliser after Lee Borg was fouled outside the area and Cassar served Montebello in the area from the free kick only for Balzan to save his header.
Referee: Pierre Bonnici
Player of the match: Tristsn Caruana (Paola H)