Valletta-Bala Town 0-1

 

After five failed attempts, Bala Town finally made it a next round of a European competition. Their victims none other than Valletta who almost against all odds bowed out of the competition after a chaotic display.

Valletta had more of the ball and spent much of the time in the opposing half, but they lacked punch and vision of play. Bala did not make it easy with practically all players behind the ball waiting for their opponents.

After forging ahead six minutes from the break it became easier for the Welsh side and more problematic for Valletta who had their best chance on the hour but Mario Fontanella failed to score from the penalty spot.

Valletta paraded new signing Jovanovic in the heart of defence with Jonathan Caruana. The Citizens were found wanting on the flanks with Pena Beltre rarely effective and with Alba completely absent. Piciollo and Dimech had some good moves in the early stages but Valletta were always found wanting in the final pass and Fontanella was never served.

With the inclusion of Nwoko in the second half, Valletta had more punch but did not create a decent scoring move. Other signing Taylon Marcolino obtained a penalty with his first touch of the ball, but this was missed by Fontanella.

From then onwards it was evident that this was not Valletta’s evening. The inclusion of another new signing Marukawa did not help matters as the Bala defenders never gave away an inch and Valletta had nothing more to offer in the end.

The start looked promising for the Citizens with Piciollo testing Ramsey with a central drive and with the same player hitting slightly over the bar. On ten minutes Correia was left unattended at the edge of the area but his shot went wide.

On twenty minutes Valletta’s best move in the first half with Pena Beltre finally managing to break through on the right flank and his cross from the goal line found Dimech unmarked, but the youngster’s shot was blocked by a defender.

Six minutes from the break Bala scored what proved to be the winner. Leslie’s low cross from the left caught the Valletta defence napping and captain Chris Venables darted in to fire home from close range, giving Bonello no chance to save.

Valletta had an immediate and good reaction and almost drew level two minutes later when a Jonathan Caruana header from an Alba corner just missed the target.

On the resumption Alba was left in the dressing room, making way for Nwoko. Valletta took full control of the match but Ramsey was never in danger. In a fast break Bala almost sent the game to bed but Rowen Muscat, who covered acres, managed to anticipate Evans who was on hand to hit home.

Valletta’s life line came on the hour when Taylon Marcolino who had just came, was floored by Kay and referee Barbeno ordered the penalty. But goalkeeper Ramsey was more alert than Fontanella and blocked the striker’s shot, which was surely not one of the best executions by Fontanella.

A minute later Nwoko had a chance following a melee in front of goal but Ramsey made another good save. From than onwards it was Valletta all the way, but Ramsey was never called again in action as Valletta’s desperate and at times pathetic efforts always hit the red Bala defensive wall.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, S. Malano, M. Piciollo (T. Marcolino 60’), S. Dimech (T. Marukawa 68’), J. Borg, E. Pena Beltre, R. Muscat, M. Alba (K. Nwoko 46’), M. Jovanovic, M. Fontanella.

Bala Town: A. Ramsey, S. Smith, T. Stephens, J. Spittle, W. Evans, R. Correia (H. Jones 79’), S. Leslie (K. Smith 69’), A. Kay, L. Mendes, C. Venables, O. Shannon.

Referee: Luca Barbeno (San Marino)

Scorer: C. Venables 39’

Yellow cards: E. Pena Beltre, T. Marcolino, A. Ramsey, A. Kay, H. Jones

 

Sirens’ European debut ends in heartbreak

 

Jurgen Degabriele brace puts Hibs in second round

Hibernians qualified to the the Europa League preliminary round when yesterday they beat FC Vadu z in Vaduz thanks to a brace from striker Jurgen Degabriele. This is certainly a great result for Stefano Sanderra’s boys, against a team who always obtains good results in Europe especially at home.

Hibernians will now know their opponents next Monday when the draws are made in Nyon. After taking a two goal lead Hibernians were reduced to ten men when Bjorn Kristensen received a second booking, but the Paolites held their ground to obtain a great result.

Hibernians took the lead on 34 minutes when from a corner action, Jurgen Degabriele’s shot found the back of the net. The same player doubled the score twelve minutes into the second half after a good move with Kristensen.

On 64 minutes Kristensen received a second yellow card and Hibernians had to prtect their precious lead with ten men. But Hibernians managed to keep their opponents at bay to move on to the next round.

Vaduz: Benjamin Büchel, Simani, Manuel Sutter, Mohamed Coulibaly, Tunahan Cicek, Yannick Schmid, Pius Dorn (75′ Matteo Di Giusto), Sandro Wieser, Cedric Gasser, Sebastian Santin (67′ Nico Hug), Gabriel Lüchinger (67′ Milinceanu).

Hibernians: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Leandro Almeida, Ayrton Attard (70′ Edafe Uzeh), Jake Grech, Jurgen Degabriele, Bjorn Kristensen, Zachary Grech, Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Shola Shodiya (75′ Timothy Tabone Desira), Andrei Agius, Jose Wilkson Teixeira (63′ Rundell Winchester).

Referee: Luis Teixeira (Portugal)