APS Bank Under 17 Section A

Valletta  5

Melita  0

Valletta had an easy win against newly-promoted Melita and as they dominated proceedings throughout the whole 80 minutes. So superior were Valletta as Melita manged only four shots during the game, two of which came from free kicks,

After only six minutes Valletta opened the score when Dario Zampa served Ian Montanaro in the area and after he was tripped by Roberto Spiteri, Kurt Drakary made no mistake from the spot sending Melita keeper Philip Schranz the wrong way of the ball.

In Melita’s first action, Antoine Attard was fouled in midfield and Nathan Sammut drove well over the bar from the free kick.

Melita then mounted two further actions. Attard pounced on a faulty short free kick pass and after entering the area he missed the upright and the same player was then fouled outside the area.Paul Muscat hit the defnsive barrier from the free kick and he drove out from the rebound.

Valletta regained the initiative and before the break Drakary served Zammit in the area but he drove out from a very ideal position and thenJean Carlo Seychell served the same player in the area from a free kick but he drove high with only Schranz to beat.

Valletta doubled their lead five minutes after the restart when Zammit pounced on a loose ball and scored with a diagonal low drive after entering the area and eight minutes later the same player scored No 3 after he was put through in the area by Montanaro.

Valletta resume their pressure. The score became 4-0 in the 64th minute as Zammit served Suda in the area and after Scranz partly saved his shot Drakary was on hand to score from the rebound.

Ten muntes before the end Valletta scored their fifth and final goal when Edmond Camilleri served Zammit in the area who then square-passed the ball to Drakary who scored with a hard low shot completing a personal hat-trick.

Referee: Stefan Pace

Player of the match: Ian Montanaro (Valletta)

Stripes make sure in first half

San Gwann   0

Birkirkara 3

Birkirkara were the better outfit in their opening game against newly-promoted San Gwann. They enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the whole match.

The Stripes went straight on the offensive as they mounted the first two actions. Kurt Zamit served Russell Gatt De Gabriele with a through ball and San Gwann keeper Dean Sciberras turned his shot to a corner which was well-taken by De Gabriele who served Ryan Cutajar with and the ball was headed away after his cross from the right.

Minutes later Sciberras saved a hard grounder from outside the area by Kurt Zammit after he dribbled past two opponents.

San Gwann then created their first action after 14 minutes when Luke Zammit served Michael Farrugia in the area and after Stripes keeper Dylan Cutajar partly saved his shot, the ball was cleared away to safety.

At the other end, Gatt De Gabriele served Leon Zammit with a through ball who entered the area after beating a defender and after Sciberras partly saved his effort the ball was cleared away.

Birkirkara opened the score in the 27th minute as Andrea Curmi served Kurt Zammit with a through ball in the area who scored with a lobbed ball over the on-rushing Sciberras.

In another action, Birkirkara’s Roderick Bonello served Kurt Zammit with a through ball on the right flank but he found no takers after his cross.

The score became 2-0 in the 34th minute when Darren Buttigieg, up with his forwards, dribbled past an opponent on the left flank who then served Kurt Zammit with a cross in the area and scored with a low shot.

In the first minute of added time Luke Zammit completed a personal hat-trick as he scored from inside the area after being served with a cross from the left by Ryan Cutajar.

Two minutes after restart the Stripes were denied by the woodwork when a Leon Zammit effort hit the base of the upright from his shot with Sciberras beaten.

San Gwann had Andre’ Cachia going close when the ball finished over the bar from substitute Julian Camilleri’s cross.

Birkirkara could have scored more goals. Ebejer served Curmi with a through pass on the right flank and Sciberras had to dive and save his hard effort from outside the area. When Gatt De Gabriele was fouled on the left flank, and after Leon Zammit served the same player with a short pass the ball was cleared following his shot.

San Gwann scored a consolation goal seven minutes before the end when Andrea’ Cachia dribbled past an opponent outside the area and scored with a rising shot.

Referee: Darryl Agius

Player of the match: Kurt Zammit (Birkirkara)