APS Bank U-16 Section A

St Andrews 1

Sliema W 2

Sliema W managed to turn defeat into victory after being a goal in arrears. St Andrews enjoyed the lion’s share of the exchanges in the first period while Sliema were the better outfit after the resumption.

Following this game Sliema are in second spot on 34 points from 18 games while St Andrews are in the fourth position on 31 points from same number of games.

The first threat came from St Andrews as Edward Mercieca, after a run down the left flank, executed a perfect cross but Michael Grima was a second too late to apply the killer touch and the ball was smothered by Blues keeper Nikky Azzopardi.

Azzopardi then saved on Kurt Galea after a short free kick by Calleja and St Andrews keeper Gian Luca Fino saved a shot by Klinsman Grech.

The last actions before the break were created by St Andrews: Calleja served Edward Grima with a cross from the right and Azzopardi turned the ball to a corner and in the 32nd minute St Andrews player Daniel Lapira was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Dorian Sammut.

Eight minutes after the restart St Andrews forged ahead as Matthew Fenech was put through in the area and was tripped by the Blues keeper and a defender and Vella Petroni made no mistake from the resultant penalty.

In the 56th minute Sliema player Luca Martinelli was also shown a yellow card.

Sliema obtained the equaliser in the 57th minute: Klinsman Grech controlled a ball in the Saints half and after dribbling past an opponent, served Martinelli on the left flank and the latter netted with a low shot after entering the area. Two minutes later Vella Petroni was shown the yellow card for handling the ball in the air.

St Andrews kept trying and Vella Petroni served Edward Grima in the area but he missed the upright. At the other end, Dorian Sammut tested Azzopardi who effected a spectacular diving save to a corner. In the 70th minute Sliema player Yanis Tonna was also shown the yellow card for passing remarks to the Assistant Referee.

The Blues scored the winning goal six minutes from the end through Martinelli who netted from the left edge of the area after being put through by Sammut.

The last action before the end also came from Sliema as Grech served Martinelli with a through ball who returned the compliment to Tonna but Fino saved his shot.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Player of the match: Dorian Sammut (Sliema W)

APS Bank U-14 Section A

Sliema W 1

Paola H 4

The Paola youngsters kept on their positive run and they lead the standings on 46 points from 16 games. They are the only unbeaten side in the section. Sliema W are in fifth place on 22 points from same number of games.

The Paolites dictated matters throughout the whole 60 minutes. Their precise passing, inter-changing and positional play were a delight to watch.

Sliema took an early second minute lead as Gary Tanti served Ryan Dalli with a through ball on the left edge of the area and shot past Paola keeper Ayrton Curmi with a rising shot in the top right hand corner of the net.

Paola’s reaction was immediate: Ian Scerri crossed from the right flank and after the ball was partially cleared, Johann Bezzina drove over the bar from the rebound.

Matthew Hammett then served Bezzina with a cross from the right and Blues keeper Brian Incorvaja saved his shot from outside the area.

In the 18th minute Paola deservedely obtained the equaliser. Bezzina served Ian Scerri who shot past Incorvaja.

The last action before the break came from Sliema when Gary Tanti was fouled just outside the area and from the resultant free kick, Ryan Dalli drove over the bar.

The second period was dominated by Paola during which they added three further goals. The second goal was scored three minutes after restart: Bezzina served Massa with a cross from the right, the ball was cleared to a corner from his shot and Muscat netted direct from the flag kick.

In the 37th minute Sliema player Ryan Dalli was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Karl Conti. The Paolites resumed with their pressure: Kristensen served Scerri in the area and a defender cleared his shot to a corner.

Kristensen then served Conti from a free kick who in turn served Massa with a cross from the right and the ball was cleared to a corner.

The score became 3-1 in the 49th minute as Scerri served Hammett in the area and he netted with a low shot.

Five minutes later Paola scored a fourth goal as substitute Christian Briffa, after beating a defender, served Scerri with a cross from the right and the latter netted from close range.

Three minutes before the end Kristensen served Massa in the area who tried his luck with a lobbed ball but a Blues defender managed to clear the ball in the nick of time before crossing the fatal line.

Ref: Jonathan Bonello

Player of the match: Bjorn Kristensen (Paola H)

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