APS Bank U-16 Section A

Paola H 1

Valletta 0

Valletta suffered their first defeat in five games, after having won three and drawn one. Their keeper Dunstan Zarb was beaten after 356 minutes. Paola Hibs remain on maximum points from five games. The game was keenly fought, watched by a sizeable crowd, played under a continuous rain and ably controlled by referee Duncan Sultana.

The first action came from Paola H as Bertrand Duncan served Jean Paul Farrugia in the area and Zarb denied him with a fine save to a corner, at the other end, Carl Azzopardi served Neil Goodlip in the area but Hibs keeper Daniel Balzan foiled him with a timely sortie.

After Azzopardi was fouled on the left flank of the area, Balzan partially saved a Chircop free kick his and the ball was cleared away to safety with difficulty and Azzopardi then served Matthew Caruana in the area but Daniel Attard foiled him from progressing any further with a timely clearance to a throw-in.

Four minutes before the break Paola H opened the score. Jean Paul Farrugia was fouled on the left flank, and Tristen Caruana scored the resultant free kick with a spectacular rising shot from 30 metres.

The second period was more action-packed than the first and the first two actions came from Paola Hibs through Tristen Caruana and Matthew Cauchi.

In a Valletta reaction, Neil Chircop was fouled on the right flank of the area and from the free kick shot by the same player the ball was headed away by a defender. At the other end, Tabone square-passed to Gauci and from his cross from the right Zarb neutralized the ball.

On 55 minutes Paola H were reduced to ten men as Gauci was shown a second yellow card which meant immediate dismissal.

Valletta again reacted, Adrian Carabott, after out-pacing three opponents he served Leon Camilleri with a square-pass in the area but he drove over the bar from an ideal position. Zarb then denied Paola a second goal when he saved in two attempts a shot by Duncan from inside the area.

The Citizens again mounted a strong reaction by creating three actions in succession and were also denied by the woodwork on Goodlip’s header from a Chircop corner.

The last action before the end came from Paola H when Matthew Tabone was fouled outside the area and Zarb saved the ball from Farrugia’s free kick.

Referee: Duncan Sultana

Player of the match: Carl Azzopardi (Valletta)

APS Bank U-16 Section A

St Andrews 3

Floriana 0

St Andrews managed to maintain a 100 per cent record from six games while for Floriana this was their third defeat. The Saints were quicker on the ball and more precise in their passing and approaches. Floriana managed to create chances but were very erratic in their finishing.

The Greens created three actions in succession between the second and ninth minute but failed to put any on target.

St Andrews looked dangerous from an Edward Grima corner but the ball was cleared away by a Floriana defender.

At the other end, Farrugia served Marmara from a throw-in in the area and his lobbed ball was cleared on the line. When Orianski Buhagiar advanced in the area, he was foiled from progressing with a timely tackle by Glenn Fenech.

St Andrews created two more chances before breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes with a choral move involving three players. Fenech served Mercieca with a through ball outside Floriana’s area, the latter returned the compliment to Matthew Fenech in the area who advanced unhindered and scored with a low shot.

Floriana were awarded a free kick but Fino saved the shot by Mark Spiteri.

The score became 2-0 in the 29th minute as Vella Petroni served Michael Grima with a through ball in the area and with the Floriana defenders stopping for a non-existent off-side he advanced unhindered and netted with a low shot past a helpless keeper Gerada.

Floriana created the first actions after the restart but were erratic in their finishing.

On 66 minutes the score became 3-0.

Edward Mercieca won a loose ball outside Floriana’s area after a defensive indecision who after entering the area he netted with a low shot and on 70 minutes the woodwork denied St Andrew a fourth goal. Matthew Fenech served Michael Grima with a cross from the right, the ball hit the base of the upright and from the rebound by Matthew Fenech, Dylan Balzia cleared the ball to a corner.

Referee: Alexei Tabone

Player of the match: Nick Vella Petroni (St Andrews)