St Venera 5
Kalkara 1
Following this easy win against Kalkara, St Venera have qualified for the promotion play-offs against Section C 1 winners Zejtun and against either Zebbug R or Lija-Iklin from Section C 3.
They attained 30 points from 11 games with a game more still to be played, while Kalkara finished their 12-game committments on only two points.
St Venera enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the whole 80 minutes as they forced the early pressure by creating three actions in a row.
Francesco Bonnici served Yousef Eldin in the area but Clayton Debono foiled him with a timely tackle.
Bonnici was then fouled on the left flank and from his free kick the ball was headed away.
Shawn Kind served Shawinson Farrugia in the area and after Kalkara keeper Stefan Farrugia partly saved his shot, the ball was cleared away.
In Kalkara’s first action Kurt Agius was fouled on the right flank and from Liam Carter’s free kick the ball was cleared away.
St Venera opened the score in the 10th minute as Stefan Micallef served Eldin with a through ball in the area who scored with a hard low drive.
The Yellow/Blues kept pressing and won a corner kick on the left flank which was taken by Bonnici and the ball was cleared with difficulty from the area.
The score became 2-0 in the 17th minute. Micallef freed Eldin on the left flank who after out-speeding a defender entered the area and scored with a hard diagonal shot.
Eldin was then fouled on the left edge of the area, the ball was partly cleared from the free kick by Nigel Refalo and Eldin drove over the bar from the rebound.
St Venera scored a third goal on the half hour as Bonnici served Eldin with a through pass who entered the area after beating an opponent and netted with a hard, low drive.
In the last action before the break Kind served Eldin on the right flank who, after advancing saw Farrugia neutralising the ball from his cross-shot.
Five minutes after the restart St Venera scored a fourth goal as Eldin dribbled past an opponent on the left flank who then crossed to Refalo in the area to score with a rising shot.
In the first action by Kalkara, Kurt Agius was fouled outside the area, from the free kick by Neville Spiteri St Venera keeper Joel Xuereb partly saved the ball which was then cleared away to safety.
St Venera resumed with their pressing. Substitute Keith Schembri pouced on a defensive indecision and after entering the area Farrugia denied him with a fine diving save.
Ryan Grech served Schembri with a through ball in the area and Clayton Debono foiled him with a timely tackle while substitute Martin Azzopardi served Schembri with a through ball and after he was tripped just outside the area Eldin missed the upright from the free kick,
Seven minutes before the end the score became 5-0. Neil Farrugia, up with his forwards, entered the area after beating an opponent and after Farrugia partly saved his shot, Refalo scored from the rebound.
Three minutes before the end, Kalkara scored a consolation goal as they won a corner kick on the left flank which was well-taken by Liam Carter and substitute Daniel Meli scored with a header past substitute keeper Kyle Magri.
Referee: Andrew J Sammut
Player of the match: Stefan Micallef (St Venera)