A draw was a fair result in this game as both sides had their good moments. After a balanced first period, Tarxien enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges after the resumption.

Following this game Tarxien are now in fifth place on 15 points from 10 games while Naxxar are in sixth place on 14 points from same number of games.

The first actions were created by Naxxar. Dwayne Bonnici was fouled outside the area and Tarxien keeper Antonio Chetcuti saved in two attempts from the free kick taken by Ryan Cassar. Robert Baldacchino served Tyan Mercieca in the area and Chetcuti saved his close-range shot and later saved a shot by Matthew Grech from the edge of the area after being put through by Andrew Caruana.

The reaction by Tarxien was very immediate. Clive Aquilina served Nigel Vella outside the area and Naxxar keeper Luke Pecorella saved his long- range shot. Josef Vassallo served Silas Caruana on the edge of the area and the ball missed the upright from his shot.

Caruana then served Matthew Cassar with a square pass outside the area and the ball missed the bar by inches with Pecorella beaten while later, Aquilina served Jermy Galea with a cross from the left and Pecorella had to dive and save to a corner the latter’s close-range shot.

A minute after the restart Naxxar opened the score as Dwayne Bonnici was fouled on the left flank, Cassar floated a perfect ball in the area from the free kick and Kurt Bonnici netted with a flick.

Following this setback, Tarxien pressed forward in an attempt to save the game and Vella headed slightly out. After a one-two between Vassallo and Vella, the latter entered the area and Pecorella saved his grounder. Then Vassallo served Vella on the right flank who then crossed to Caruana in the area but Pecorella saved his shot.

Tarxien equalised on the hour. Vassallo was fouled on the right flank and following the free kick by Matthew McKay, a Naxxar defender handled the ball in the area and Nigel Vella made no mistake from the resultant penalty.

In the 75th minute Tarxien came very close to take the lead when Vella was fouled outside the area, the ball was partly cleared from the free kick by Aquilina and from the rebound by Caruana from the edge of the area the ball was cleared from over the fatal line.

A minute before the end, substitute Trevor Shepherd should have wrapped it up for Tarxien as he was put through in the area but he drove out from one metre with only Pecorella to beat, while just before the final whistle Chetcuti saved the day for Tarxien when he denied Bonnici with a diving save to a corner after he was put through by Andrew Caruana.

Referee: Darrell Agius

Player of the match: Josef Vassallo (Tarxien R)

Deserved win for the Spartans 

APS Bank U-15 Section A 

Hamrun S    2

Naxxar L     0

A game between two teams who occupy the bottom rungs of the standings proved to be a very good game to watch. The Hamrun youngsters were the better outfit and fully deserved the verdict.

They are now third from bottom on nine points from 11 games while Naxxar are in bottom placing having only four points from 10 games.

The first action came from Hamrun when after a run down the right flank, Gary Cauchi crossed the ball in the area to Joyfred Farrugia and the ball was cleared from the latter’s header.

At the other end, Ismail Ellul served Joel Ellul in the area and Hamrun keeper Matthew Taliana foiled him with a timely sortie.

Hamrun opened the score in the 11th minute through Jake Grech who scored from inside the area after a Cauchi through ball.

In a Naxxar reaction, Adam Pace was fouled outside the area and Clayton Falzon drove over the bar from the free kick. In another Hamrun attack, Seymour Micallef served Grech on the left flank and the ball was cleared by a defender following his cross.

Naxxar came close an equaliser in the 14th minute when Lydon Camilleri served Joel Ellul with a square pass in the area and he missed the upright by inches from his shot.

In the 17th minute Grech should have doubled for Hamrun after he was served from a free kick by Waddle Formosa but he skied the ball from one metre with only Naxxar keeper Slaven Micallef to beat.

Hamrun came very close a second goal before the interval when Micallef served Dylan Spiteri on the right flank but his shot was cleared from over the fatal line.

Naxxar created the first and only action after the restart when Clayton Falzon floated a high ball in the area from a free kick and substitute Daniel Agius headed over the bar.

Between the 45th and 50th minutes Hamrun came very close to double. Spiteri served Grech on the right flank who after entering the area the ball hit the far post with Micallef beaten. Grech was then fouled just outside the area and from the free kick by the same player Micallef saved the ball with a diving save in two attempts.

Hamrun doubled the score on the hour when after a run down the left flank by substitute Luke Galea he hugged the goal line and crossed the ball in the area with a Naxxar defender having the misfortune of deflecting the ball into his own net.

Five minutes before the end Hanrun were denied by the woodwork when Cauchi was fouled on the left edge of the area and the ball thumped the bar from the free kick shot by Grech.

Referee: Albert Borg Cardona

Player of the match: Gary Cauchi (Hamrun S)