GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium
Oratory Y : 0
R. Sammut, J.P. Longarela, K. Grima (A. Bezzina), K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg, B. Perello Palou, C. Mercieca (Jo. Attard), L. Mba Mutasi, M. Buttigieg, Ju. Attard (M. Azzopardi), R. Ebube Okpokwu.
Gharb R : 0
D. Spiteri, M. Grech, D. Stojanovic, J. Azzopardi, J.P. Grima, M. Bezzina, E. Tawiah, B. Polo Longarela (J. Camenzuli), J. Portelli, D. Bellotti, M. Nwankwo.
Newly promoted side Gharb Rangers earned their first point in the top division from a goalless draw against Oratory Youths. Gharb recovered from the disappointing performance in their previous match and were determined to obtain a positive result against an opponent which may be a direct challenger in the tussle against relegation. The match, however, exposed the limitations of the two sides particularly in attack as both Oratory and Gharb failed to convert their play into good scoring opportunities. At the end of the match the Rangers were more satisfied with the point obtained while Oratory were disappointed for the two points dropped from a clash against a less quoted opponent.
Oratory tried to take command of play from the early stages but Gharb were well organized at their defense and managed to keep their area clear form danger. Oratory could have opened the score on 10 minutes but a strike from outside the area by Keith Farrugia was well saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri. As time passed by Gharb started to share more play but the actions at the goals were rare. On 26 minutes Gharb’s Moses Nwankwo had a good attempt form an angled position that was well saved by Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut and on 45 minutes Oratory protested for a penalty, claiming handling as Gharb cleared the ball from the area with some difficulty. In the second minute of stoppage time before half time Oratory were again dangerous but a free kick by Bartomeu Perello Palou was cleared form the goalmouth by Michael Bezzina.
The match became much more interesting after the break as Gharb seemed more motivated while the Youths tried to hold territorial supremacy through their experienced players. On 55 minutes Oratory’s Ralph Ebube Okpokwu headed incredibly wide form close distance following a cross by Bartomeu Perello Palou and four minutes later Gharb replied with an attempt by John Paul Grima, who was in an unmarked position, that ended wide. On 67 minutes a free kick by oratory’s Bartomeu Perello Palou was saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri and less than a minute later Gharb’s Ezekiel Tawiah had a good shot that just missed the target. On 69 minutes Gharb were again dangerous Moses Nwankwo came face to face with the goalkeeper but his low drive ended away from the post. Oratory had their best opportunity to open the score on 70 minutes when a header by Ralph Ebube Okpokwu following a cross by Bartomeu Perello Palou hit the post and Gharb’s Matthew Grech cleared off the fatal line to avoid a certain goal. During the final stages of the encounter Oratory increased their efforts in an attempt to clinch the victory but they could not find their way to create serious danger to Gharb’s keeper. The Rangers could have earned the full points at stake as they threatened Oratory’s rearguard on two separate occasions. On 87 minutes Gharbs Dylan Belloti took the ball from Oratory’s defense but his attempt from close distance ended wide. On the stroke of regular time Gharb were again dangerous through a strike from long distance by Josef Portelli, when Oratory’s goal was unattended, but the ball ended away from the target.
Referee: Kurt Saliba
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