Pembroke Ath 5

Birkirkara 1

Pembroke played their last game in the Section beating the Stripes by five goals to one, finishing third from bottom on 12 points from 22 games while Birkirkara finished in fifth position on 36 points also from 22 games. After a balanced first period, Pembroke enjoyed the lion’s share of the exchanges after the resumption.

Birkirkara created the first actions. Jurgen Ebejer dribbled past an opponent on the left flank and the ball was neutralised by Pembroke keeper Albert Galea following his cross-shot.

In the 17th minute Pembroke drew first blood as Andre’ Ciancio dribbled past an opponent on the left flank and served Tyrone Fenech with a cross in the area who netted with a rising shot.

In another action by Birkirkara, Dylan Aquilina served Gatt De Raffaele on the left flank and the ball finished over the bar from his cross-shot.

The last two actions before the break were created by Pembroke. Fenech served Galea in the area with a through ball and Micallef saved his shot and a flag kick by Fenech created havoc in Birkirkara’s area and the ball was cleared away with difficulty.

Pembroke created three actions soon after the restart. Ciancio served Nicholai Vella with a through ball outside the area and Micallef saved his rising shot

In a similar action between the same players, Micallef saved a low shot by Vella and Galea released Vella on the left flank but the ball missed the bar from his cross-shot.

The score became 2-0 in the 48th minute as Galea served Ciancio with a through ball in the area who scored with a lobbed ball.

In a Stripes reaction substitute Kurt Zammit dribbled past two defenders and Galea saved his effort from outside the area. Shawn Deguara also had a shot from outside the area by Galea.

Pembroke scored their third goal on the hour as Vella outsped a defender on the left flank and crossed the ball in the area to Galea who netted with a low shot.

Birkirkara reduced the gap in the 64th minute as Kurt Zammit pounced on a faulty clearance in the area who netted with a hard grounder.

They came close to further reduce the gap in two consecutive actions. After a Gatt De Raffaele flag kick, Galea had to dive and save a header by Kurt Zammit and Deguara served Gatt De Raffaele with a short free kick with the ball hitting the base of the upright from his hard drive with Galea beaten.

The score became 4-1 in the 70th minute as Galea dribbled past two defenders on the left flank who scored with a hard low drive after entering the area.

In the last minute of normal time, Pembroke scored their fifth and final goal as Mikhail Schembri dribbled past an opponent on the left flank and after the ball was partly cleared, Galea was on hand to score with a low drive from the rebound, obtaining a hat-trick and his side’s fifth goal. 

Referee: Shawn Calleja

Player of the match: Lee Galea (Pembroke Ath)