APS Bank U-17 Section A

The Red/Blacks deserved their victory as they were the better outfit throughout the whole game by creating much more occasions than Naxxar who were kept under constant pressure.

Following this game Hamrun are in fifth position on 20 points from 10 games while Naxxar occupy bottom place having only three points, also from 10 games.

Hamrun created the first action as Clive Schembri served Ryan Bonello in the area and the ball was cleared to a corner from his shot, while at the other end, Kyle Agius served Clyde Bonavia in the area and Hamrun keeper Terence Saliba saved his shot in two attempts.

The reaction by Hamrun was very immediate as they created four actions in a row. Ayrton Micallef served Aaron Mangion in the area and Naxxar keeper Matthew Gatt had to tip the ball over the bar following his shot.

Bonello then served Glenn Azzopardi on the left flank but his good cross found no takers. Gatt came to his side’s rescue once again as he tipped the ball over the bar from a shot by Daniel Zerafa and Mangion pounced on a faulty clearance though he missed the upright from inside the area.

In a Naxxar rare attack Agius was fouled on the left flank and Saliba saved in two attempts from the free kick by Luke Pullicino.

Eight minutes before the break Bonavia should have opened the score for Naxxar after being put through in the area by Kurt Grixti but he skied the ball from a very ideal position.

They paid dearly for this miss as in Hamrun’s next attack they opened the score as Schembri served Bonello in the area and Gatt fumbled the ball from his shot which rolled slowly behind the fatal line.

Very few were the actions worthy of note in the second period but Hamrun managed to hold the upper hand.

Naxxar created the first action as Josef De Gabriele served Andrew Caruana in the area but Saliba saved his shot. Hamrun reacted very promptly and created all the actions up to the final whistle.

Azzopardi’s shot missed the upright. Then Zerafa served Mangion with another through ball, the ball was deflected by a defender following his shot and it hit the upright with Gatt beaten.

Hamrun doubled the score in the 64th minute through Micallef who scored from the edge of the area after a Jacob Rakban through pass.

Gatt then saved a shot by Micallef after the latter had won possesion in Naxxar’s half of the pitch.

The score became 3-0 four minutes from the end as Mangion served Zerafa with a cross from the right and he first-timed the ball in the roof of the net.

Referee: Andre’ Sciriha

Player of the match: Daniel Zerafa (Hamrun S)