APS Bank U-17 Section B

Hamrun S 0

Pembroke Athleta 0

VICTOR CIANGURA

APS Bank U-17 Section B

This game was dominated by the Spartans who created much more occasions than Pembroke but they failed to produce any goals. Pembroke keeper Wayne Aquilina was in an unbeatable form as he thwarted the Hamrun forwards on many occasions with some fine saves. Hamrun are still leading the Section on 35 points from 14 games while Pembroke are in eighth place on 20 points from 14 games.

Hamrun started straight on the offensive as they created four actions in succession. Darren Rapa served Chris Schembri with a cross from the left and Pembroke keeper Wayne Aquilina saved Chris Schembri’s shot on Darren Rapa’s cross. The latter’s free kick was also cleared and the keeper twice held out headers by Chris Schembri.

Pembroke created only two occasions in the first period, Daniel Caruana served Jurgen Stellini with a short corner kick but Hamrun keeper Andrea Cassar saved Jurgen Stellini’s shot from inside the area and Daniel Caruana drove a free kick over the bar.

The Spartans soon regained the initiative and created further actions before the half time whistle.

In the 28th minute Clive Schembri served Chris Schembri with a through ball in the area and he scored with a header but the goal was disallowed for off-side. Glenn Azzopardi served Chris Cardona with a cross from the right but Aquilna denied him with a diving save and when Glenn Azzopardi was fouled, the ball was cleared away after the free kick shot by Rapa.

A minute after restart Reuben Degabriele was fouled outside the area and, from a Gianluca Debattista free kick, Aquilina tipped the ball overe the bar to a corner.

In the 54th minute Pembroke came very close to open the score when Luke Sammut served Keith Grech with a long throw-in in the area and he drove slightly out. Hamrun kept pressing and Debattista served substitute Aaron Mangion with a short free kick but keeper Aquilina saved his shot from outside the area. Clive Schembri then served Rapa with a cross from the left but he drove over the bar.

In a Pembroke rare late attack, Keith Grech served Andrew Muscat in the area but Cassar foiled him with a timely sortie.

Referee: Philip Farrugia Player of the match: Clive Schembri (Hamrun S)

* * *

Marsa hold on to second place

APS Bank Unde-15 Section B

Gozo 0

Marsa 2

Marsa consolidated second spot in the table after a deserved win against Gozo. After a balanced first period Marsa enjoyed the lion's share of exchanges after resumption by creating more occasions than their opponents.

Marsa are on 33 points from 12 games while Gozo are on 22 points from 10 games.

The first action worthy of note came from Gozo after five minutes: David Portelli served Luke Meilak with a through ball, the latter returned the compliment to Dylan Bellotti in the area but he missed the upright with his shot.

On the other end minutes later, Elland Vella shot over the bar after beating a defender and after Jeremny Vella was fouled outside the area, Elland Vella again drove over the bar.

Josiah Buttigieg served Meilak in the area but Marsa keeper Sergei Danilov foiled him from further progression with a perfect timely sortie. In the 14th minute Gozo nearly opened the score as Meilak served Bellotti in the area and Danilov partly saved his close range shot. Bellotti was then fouled on the right flank and Danilov saved Christian Debono’s the free kick.

Three minutes before the break Marsa opened the score when Marsio Guzman served Andre' Fenech with a long throw-in in the area and he lobbed ball past a helpless Matthew Muscat.

Four minutes after restart Bellotti was fouled on the right flank and the ball missed the upright from a Debono free kick.

The reaction by Marsa was very prompt as they created three actions in succession. Luca Bugeja served Jeremy Vella with a through ball and Muscat saved his first-timer from outside the area and then a defender cleared Jeremy’s Vella shot to a corner. Keeper Muscat foiled substitute Kresan Agius with a timel sortie.

Marsa doubled the score in the 48th minute as Nasr served Jeremy Vella in the area who after out-speeding two opponents and shot past Muscat with a hard grounder.

In a last fling by the Gozitans in the 54th minute, Meilak pounced on a faulty clearance and Danilov denied him with a fine diving save.

A minute before the end, Marsa came close to scoring a third goal as Mifsud served Jeremy Vella with a through ball but after dribbling past two opponents he drove slightly over the bar.

Referee: Luke Portelli

Player of the match: Jeremy Vella (Marsa)