APS Bank U/16 Section B

Zebbug R 1

St Patrick 1

St Patrick lost top place following this result and are now in third position on 39 points from 19 games while Zebbug are in the eight position on 23 points from 20 games.

The first action came from St Patrick as Randall Vella served Jurgen Farrugia on the left flank and Zebbug keeper Brandon Bartolo neutralised the ball from his cross, Zebbug reacted: Bjorn Chetcuti served Justin Cauchi in the area, the ball was partially cleared from his shot and in came in the path of Kevin Tanti who missed the upright by inches from his shot.

The Saints soon regained the initiative: Dillon Pace served Wayne Caruana with a through ball, the latter served Jurgen Farrugia with a cross from the left and the Zebbug keeper turned his shot to a corner and Caruana served Christian Zammit in the area but Bartolo saved his shot.

In the 8th minute St Patrick opened the score when Randall Vella won a loose ball outside Zebbug’s half and scored a beauty with a rising shot from 30 metres, minutes later Bartolo came to his side’s rescue once again as he saved a close range shot by Farrugia after a one-two with Dillon Pace.

Zebbug then were awared a free kick after Justin Cauchi was fouled and from the free kick shot by Bjorn Chetcuti, Saints keeper Carlos Bajada turned the ball to a corner, and in the 25th minute Zebbug equalised: from a Chetcuti free kick shot the ball was partially cleared and Cauchi was on hand to blast the ball in the roof of the net with his rebound shot.

Eight minutes after restart Saints player Randall Vella was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Darren Farrugia anf from the free kick shot by Matthew Tanti the ball was cleared to a corner, after a corner kick by Nigel Fenech, Cauchi headed just out missing the Saints’ upright, at the other end, Farrugia served Zammit in the area but Bartolo foiled him from concluding with a perfect timely sortie.

Zebbug kept trying: Dillon Pace served Cauchi with a long throw-in from the left flank who crossed to Chetcuti who missed the upright with his shot. The Zebbug keeper denied the Saints forwards in two consecutive ocaasions saving a shot by Pace and later saved on the same player after he was put through by Farrugia.

In the 65th minute Zebbug player Ryan Magri was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Randall Cassar, the Saints keeper then saved an over-head kick by substitute Matthew Mifsud after a long throw-in by Bugeja. Five minutes from the end Saints player Christian Zammit was shown the yellow card for simulating a foul in the Zebbug area, and the last action before the end came from Zebbug: Nigel Fenech was fouled on the right flank of the area, Chetcuti served Bugeja with a short pass who in turn served Chetcuti in the area and Bajada turned his shot to a corner.

Referee: Jude Utulu Player of the match: Brandon Bartolo (Zebbug 'keeper)

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Three important points for Valletta

Valletta 3

Sliema W 1

APS Bank U/14 Section A

Valletta obtained three very important points in an effort to try and avoid relegation next season, they are in the 10th position on 18 points from 19 games while the Blues are in 6th position on 26 points from 20 games.

The first two actions came from Sliema: after a Ryan Dalli corner kick Andre' Ciappara headed just out and Dillon Grech served Dalli in the area but City keeper Yenz Cini foiled him with a timely sortie.

Valleta were awarded a free kick and Cryuff Grixti served Matthew Coleiro in the area who headed slightly out, and in their next attack in the 17th minute Valletta opened the score as Owlen Saliba was served with a cross-pass from the left and he netted from inside the area.

Sliema won a free kick on the right flank after Dalli was fouled and the same player drove over the bar from the free kick shot, the same player equalised for Sliema in the 30th minute after he was served with a through ball in the area by Dejan Vukovic, and in the first minute of added time in the first period Valletta were awarded a penalty when Coleiro was put through in the area and was pushed by Blues keeper Brian Incorvaja who was shown the yellow card, the City keeper made no mistake from the spot to put his side 2-1 up.

After Marlon Farrugia was fouled outside City’s area the same player missed the bar by inches from the free kick shot, at the other end, Karim Shewish served Saliba in the area but Ciappara foiled him with a timely clearance. Cini then saved a free kick shot by Dalli after Valentine Ndah was fouled outside the area and Dalli missed the upright after an Ndah through pass.

In the 47 th minute the woodwork denied Sliema as Daniel Axiaq served Dalli with a through ball in the area and the ball thumped the bar from his fierce drive with Cini beaten and the ball finished harmlessly out.

Five minutes before the end Valletta scored a third goal: Cini served Coleiro with a long drop kick who shot past a helpless Incorvaja to put the issue beyond any doubt.

Referee: Pierre Saliba Player of the match: Matthew Coleiro ( Valletta)

Congatulations Gozo

My congratulations to Gozo FC for winning the Under 14 Section C 3 therefore being promoted to Section B for next season.

They finished unbeaten from 12 games, winning 11 and drawing one, scoring 68 goals and suffered only 5.