APS Bank U-16 Section A

This match was watched by a sizeable crowd at Luxol ground which gave a very encouraging support to both teams. The game was played at a very fast pace and was controlled by referee Jude Utulu who had a firm control on the proceedings and was correct in showing two yellow cards and a red card. Following this game, San Gwann are in ninth place on 13 points from 11 games while Mosta are in the penultimate position with only four points from 10 games.

San Gwann had the lion's share of exchanges in the first period.

The first action was created by Mosta when Luke Busuttil served Alex Cini with a through ball on the right flank but San Gwann keeper Matthias Vella neutralised the ball from his cross.

San Gwann reacted quickly and created two occasions in succession. Jamin Farrugia, who was a constant headache to the Mosta defenders with his speed, twice went close but failed to conclude.

In the 21st minute, San Gwann opened the score. Eric Leone outsped a defender on the right flank and served Farrugia with a perfect cross in the area who made no mistake with a rising shot.

After this goal, San Gwann kept insisting and created two further actions before the halftime whistle.

The second period was a balanced affair with Mosta improving in their performance and five minutes after restart they were awarded a penalty. Alex Cini served Wayne Schembri with a cross-pass from the right who then served Gianluca Theuma in the area and he was tripped by a San Gwann defender. Lyden Micallef took charge of the resultant penalty but San Gwann keeper Matthias Vella saved the ball to a corner with a diving save.

Mosta kept trying and Micallef served Theuma in the area but Vella saved his shot. After another perfect cross by Cini, Micallef failed to get his head to the ball. Micallef then served Theuma with a cross-pass from the right but Vella denied him with a fine diving save to corner.

San Gwann reacted as Glenn Agius served Farrugia on the left flank but the ball was cleared to a corner from his cross. Glenn Agius was then shown a yellow card in the 64th minute for time wasting and being his second booking he was ordered to leave the field for an early shower.

In the 66th minute, Mosta were awarded a free kick on the left flank. Theuma served Causon with a through ball on the left flank and from his cross Vella neutralised the ball. He served Farrugia with a long drop kick and after advancing he scored with a rising shot from 20 metres to obtain a personal brace and double the lead for his side.

Lyden Micallef, after beating a defender entered the area and Vella partially saved his shot but Causon missed the upright from the rebound. In the 76th minute Mosta managed to narrow the gap when after a cross from the right by Cini the ball was partially cleared and came in the path of Micallef who scored with a low shot from inside the area.

Before the final whistle Cini served Theuma with a cross from the right who square passed the ball to Causon but Vella denied him with a diving save.

Referee: Jude Utulu

Player of the match: Gianluca Theuma (Mosta)

APS Bank U-14 Section B

St Andrew’s 2

St Patrick 2

This game was also watched by a sizeable crowd at Luxol ground giving both teams the much-needed support during the whole 60 minutes and was controlled by referee Roberto Vella. His performance was much better than the last time I watched him controlling another game a few weeks back.

A gallant effort by the Zabbar youngsters in the second period earned them a deserved draw after being 0-2 in arrears in the first period. Following this game, St Patrick are in second place on 21 points from 10 games while St Andrew's are in fourth position with 18 points from nine games.

St Andrew's were the better outfit in the first period and it was no surprise that they built what looked like a healthy 2-0 lead. They opened the score after only four minutes. Jean Paul Calleja served Luke Mercieca with a through ball in the area and as St Patrick keeper Ishmael Buhagiar came out of his charge to narrow the angle he shot the ball into an empty net. Hardly two minutes later, Calleja should have increased the lead but he lobbed the ball over the bar from a very ideal position after he was served by Zack Bonnici.

In a reaction by St Patrick, Kyle Azzopardi dribbled past a defender but the ball was cleared to a corner after his shot from outside the area.

The score became 2-0 in the 12th minute. St Patrick were awarded a free kick in St Andrew's half which was taken by Lyam Mallia and a St Andrew's defender served Luke Mercieca with a long pass from the clearance, and after beating a defender he entered the area and scored with a low shot obtaining a personal brace and his side's second goal.

St Patrick again reacted and Danilo Derevic served Michele Cardinali with a through ball on the right flank but the ball was cleared to a corner from his cross. Buhagiar then saved a shot from inside the area by Bonnici after he was put through by Luca Calleja and minutes later he brought the house down with a spectacular save when he tipped the ball over the bar from a hard drive from outside the area by Karl Mifsud Bonnici.

The Zabbar youngsters were a much more better outfit after restart.

Derevic served Cesare with a perfect cross and with only Valletta to beat he drove over the bar from two metres. In the 34th minute, St Patrick reduced the gap. Substitute Mark Micallef served Cesare with a perfect cross-pass from the right to score with a low shot from inside the area.

St Patrick were then awarded a free kick just outside St Andrew's area but Liam Mallia drove the ball well over the bar.

Valletta saved a shot from outside the area by Dylan Muscat after he was served with a through ball by Mallia and at the other end, Karl Mifsud Bonnici served Luke Mercieca with a through ball in the area but he drove over the bar.

Five minutes before the end, St Patrick scored the equaliser when Cesare served Mark Micallef with a through ball who entered the area after beating a defender and scored with a low shot to the joy of his team-mates and the numerous supporters who turned up for this game.

Referee: Roberto Vella

Player of the match: Danilo Derevic (St Patrick)