APS Bank U/16 Section A

After losing to San Gwann last week, Birkirkara managed to win against Mosta, but their task was not an easy one as Mosta played a very good game and showed vast improvement in their performance since their last defeat against Paola H.

The strong north-west wind at Melita ground rendered ball control very difficult. Birkirkara are in ninth position on 18 points from 14 games while Mosta are in penultimate position on seven points from 13 games.

The first period was a balanced affair with Mosta creating the first occasion after only four minutes through Stefan Debattista as he served Alex Cini in the area but he miscued his shot and drove out, at the other end, Kelvin Caruana served Nicholas Zammit in the area but the ball missed the upright from his shot.

Mosta created two occasions in succession. Stripes’ keeper Christian Francalanza saved a shot by James Xerri and Jonathan Bajada served Cini on the left flank and the ball finished over the bar from the latter’s cross.

Birkirkara opened the score in the 13th minute. Christian Gatt served Rowen Gatt with a short pass from a freekick and he scored a beauty with a rising shot from outside the area, minutes later after Nicholas Zammit was fouled outside the area the ball missed the upright from the freekick shot by Andreas Galea, and in the 25th minute Mosta player James Xerri was the first offender to be entered in the official’s black book for a late tackle.

Between the 27th and 28th minute Mosta came very close to level the score after a run down the right flank by David Causon he served Gianluca Theuma with a cross but he drove slightly over the bar and Cini served Lyden Micallef with a cross-pass from the left and his header was cleared to a corner.

The last action before the break came from Birkirkara when Engelbert Mifsud served Zammit in the area but Mosta keeper Jurgen Muscat saved his shot.

Mosta enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges after resumption. After the ball was partly cleared from a cross from the right by David Causon it missed the upright from the rebound shot by James Xerri while at the other end Rowen Muscat drove over the bar after he was served from a freekick by Galea after Caruana was fouled outside the area.

After a well-taken flagkick by Cini, Mark Vassallo headed the ball the wrong way of goal. The second yellow card was shown to Rowen Muscat in the 60th minute for delaying the taking of a freekick.

In the 62nd minute Mosta equalized. Alex Cini served Lyden Micallef with a through ball in the area after beating a defender and he headed in past Francalanza and hardly three minutes later they came close to obtain the lead. Eman Grech served Micallef in the area who served Debattista with a square pass and the ball was cleared on the line from his header.

In the 64th minute Mosta player Mark Vassallo was shown the yellow card for a late tackle and two minutes later team-m ate Eman Grech had the same fate for a similar offence.

In the 71st minute Birkirkara scored a second goal. Andreas Galea served Eman Borg on the right flank from a freekick, who in turn served the same player with a cross in the area and netted with a grounder. Mosta kept trying to save the game and Lyden Micallef headed just out after he was served with a cross pass from the right by Jonathan Bajada.

Referee – Sammy Attard

Player of the match – Nicholas Zammit (Birkirkara)

Easy for leaders

APS Bank U/14 Section C3

St Lucia 0

Gozo 9

The final result is a clear indication that the Gozitans had a very easy task to beat a very weak Sta Lucia team who were only in the game for the first 21 minutes and from then on it was a complete onslaught as the Gozitans scored nine goals without reply and consolidated top spot having 22 points from eight games and are still unbeaten while St Lucia have only four points from nine games and are in penultimate position.

The youngsters from the sister island took the initiative from the very first whistle. Sta Lucia keeper Mark Debattista turned the ball to a corner from a freekick shot by Daniel Portelli. Antoine Camilleri drove over the bar after a Jonathan Said freekick. Robert Vassallo missed the upright.

In the ninth and 19th minute Sta Lucia created the only two occasions during the whole 60 minutes. Emerson Farrugia served Kenneth Tabone with a through ball in the area but he missed the upright with his shot and Tyron Zammit served Tabone in the area from a freekick and the ball was cleared on the line after his shot.

The hammering commenced in the 22nd minute and up to the 29th minute four goals were scored. Jonathan Said served Antoine Camilleri in the area from a freekick and scored with a lobbed ball. Luke Meliqa served Daniel Portelli in the area who scored with a grounder. Ian Xuereb scored from inside the area after a corner kick by Camilleri and Camilleri was served with a long drop-kick by keeper Matthew Muscat he entered the area and scored with a low shot to make it 4-0.

The pressure kept coming from the Gozitans and they scored five further goals between the 38th and 56th minutes. Camilleri made it 5-0 from inside the area after a Portelli through ball. Robert Vassallo scored a sixth goal after being put through by Ian Xuereb.

Ian Xuereb scored the seventh after a Camilleri through pass. Camilleri made it 8-0 after a Xuereb through ball and the ninth goal was scored by Xuereb after he was put through in the area by Camilleri.

Referee – Jonathan Bonello

Player of the match – Antoine Camilleri (Gozo)