APS Bank U-15 Section A

The Paola yougsters maintained top spot on 38 points from 14 games and they are still unbeaten, while Floriana are fourth from bottom with only 10 points, also from 14 games.

After a balanced first period Hibs created more occasions than Floriana on the changeover.

The first action came from Hibs as Brandon Muscat served Clyde Vella on the right flank who in turn served Johann Bezzina with a cross and Greens keeper Jurgen Borg saved his shot from outside the area.

At the other end, Manuel Briffa served Chez Psaila with a through ball and Hibs keeper Nicholas Grima had to come out of his charge to kick the ball up-field.

Hibs then created two actions in a row: Scott Chircop was fouled on the left edge of the area and the ball was cleared by a defender after the free kick by Bezzina and after Matthew Thorne was fouled on the right flank and Jurgen Borg was forced to palm the ball away from the free kick by Scott Chircop.

Floriana were then awarded an indirect free kick which was taken by Abela with the ball being deflected by a defender and was saved by Grima.

In the 19th minute Hibs came close to open the score when Scott Chircop served Thorne with a cross from the left flank but he headed out from inside the area.

The next two actions were created by Floriana: Briffa served Psaila with a through ball and again Grima came out well off his charge to shoot the ball up-field.

Francesco Bezzina then served Psaila with a through ball and again Grima was prominent foiling Psaila with a timely sortie.

The the last action before the break came from Hibs as Scott Chircop served Bezzina in the area and Borg turned the ball to a corner from his shot.

The second period was dominated by Hibs as they created most of the actions. Thorne served Scott Chircop in the area but he drove over the bar. Muscat was fouled on the right flank and Borg palmed the ball away from the free kick by Bezzina.

In the 44th minute Paola H opened the score: Muscat was fouled on the right flank and from the free kick by the same player Karl conti headed the ball in.

After taking the lead Hibs resumed with their pressure: Luke Baldacchino was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by Shawn Chircop, the ball was cleared away with difficulty. Clyde Vella served Thorne with a square pass but Borg denied him with a diving save.

In the third minute of added time Hibs scored a second goal as Muscat served Bezzina who, after entering the area, netted with a low shot.

Referee: Luke Portelli

Player of the match: Scott Chircop (Paola H)

Section B

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Best team won

Birzebbuga WM 0

Rabat D 2

This game was played at Luxol Ground and kicked off 21 minutes late as referee Carmel Formosa arrived at the ground 10 minutes after kick off time.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Mario Borg, ex-Luxol head coach and MFA Council member who passed away last week.

The Rabat youngsters were the better outfit as they created much more occasions than Birzebbuga who tried very hard to operate on the break.

Following this game Rabat are in fifth place on 22 points from 13 games while Birzebbuga lie at the bottom of the standings with only five points from 12 games.

The first action came from Rabat as Christopher Schembri served Luke Cauchi in the area, the ball hit the base of the upright from his shot and finished in the waiting hands of B’Bugia keeper Isaac Rapa.

At the other end, Clayton Frendo served Alex Muscat in the area but Rabat keeper Ethan Borg saved his shot.

In the 10th minute Rabat opened the score when Schembri served Brandon Farrugia with a square pass and he scored with a rising shot from outside the area.

Encouraged by this early lead, Rabat resumed with their pressure and scored a second goal in the 19th minute after a choral move: Brady Briffa served Cauchi in the area and Rapa partly saved his shot. However, Aiven Azzopardi was on hand to score from the rebound.

In another action by Rabat, Schembri served Cauchi with a through ball and the ball was cleared to a corner from his shot, which was taken by Farrugia and after the ball was partly cleared and Chris Dimech missed the upright from the rebound.

The last action before the break was created by Birzebbuga as Clayton Frendo served Muscat in the area but he drove out when well placed in the area.

Very few were the actions worthy of note in the second period. Clayton Frendo floated a perfect ball in the area from a free kick but Lee Schembri headed out from indide Rabat’s area.

In the 36th minute Birzebbuga were denied a penalty when Clayton Frendo served Lee Schembri in the area and was tripped by the Rabat keeper as he came out of his charge to foil him and the referee, who was very close to the action, saw nothing wrong.

The last two actions before the end were created by Rabat. Substitute Chris Vella served Azzopardi with a cross from the left flank and he missed the upright from his shot.

Farrugia served Cauchi with a through ball, the latter returned the compliment to Vella and Rapa turned the ball to a corner from his shot.

Referee: Carmel Formosa

Player of the match: Clayton Frendo (Birzebbuga)