Zebbug R 0

Gozo 1

The Gozitans lead the standings on 51 points from 20 games while Zebbug are in seventh place on 25 points from 19 games. The best outfit during the game were Gozo who created more occasions than Zebbug. The Zebbug defenders played the off-side game to perfection and the Gozitans were caught in the trap no less than 13 times during 70 minutes of play.

The early pressure came from Gozo as Stefan Cassar served Joshua Buttigieg in the area and a defender cleared the ball to a corner.

Roberto Sammut dribbled past an opponent and Zebbug keeper Clayton Xuereb saved his hard grounder from the left edge of the area.

In the first action by Zebbug, Christian Farrugia was fouled on the left flank and Gozo keeper Clayton Pace saved the free kick by the same player.

Gozo opened the score in the 12th minute when Buttigieg served Damon Hili with a through ball in the area, who was in a clear offside position which was not noticed by referee assistant Joseph Azzopardi, and he scored with a rising shot.

Following this early lead, Gozo resumed with their pressing. Damon Hili released Cassar on the left flank and after advancing, he tried his luck with a hard high shot and Xuereb brought the house down as he tipped the ball over the bar with an acrobatic save.

The same player then served Buttigieg with a cross from the left flank and he missed the upright from inside the area, and Christoph Caruana was fouled on the right flank and the ball was headed away from the free kick by Cassar. 

In the first action by Gozo after the resumption, Caruana dribbled past two defenders and served Buttigieg in the area but Xuereb saved his close-range shot, while at the other end, Neil Grixti served substitute Matthew Camilleri in the area and Gozo keeper Clayton Pace foiled him with a timely sortie.

Two more actions were then created by Gozo. Damon Hili served Buttigieg with a through ball in the area but he drove out.

Cassar was then fouled outside the area following the free kick by Damon Hili but Juan Hili headed out from inside the area. 

Zebbug did not throw the towel and kept trying to save the day. Neil Grixti served Ryan Muscat with a cross from the right flank and he missed the upright with a header from inside the area. Wayne Camilleri served substitute Lyon Baldacchino with a through ball and Matthew Galea foiled him with a timely tackle while some minutes later, Muscat served Grixti with a long throw-in from the left flank who then served Philip Camilleri in the area only for the latter to kick the ball slightly over the bar.

At the other end, Caruana released Cassar in the area and Xuereb saved his hard grounder.

In the last action before the end, which was created by Zebbug, Baldacchino was fouled on the left flank and the ball was cleared away from Philip Camilleri’s free kick.

Referee: Elvio De Gabriele

Player of the match: Clayton Xuereb (Zebbug R)

Section Winners

Congratulations to St Andrew who won the Under 15 Section A. 

They have an unassailable lead, having amassed 50 points from 21 games. They have to play their last game against relegated Pembroke. The Runner-Up position is still undecided as Floriana are on 43 points from 20 games while Sliema W are on 38, also from 20 games.

Melita are the winners of the Under 17 Section B. They have 52 points from 20 games and San Gwann are the Runners-Up on 44, also from 20 games. Both teams are promoted to Section A for next season.