Gharb, Qala Earn A Point Each From A Goalless Draw

GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Gharb R: 0

Spiteri, A. Sultana, Ch. Attard, J. Azzopardi, M. Grech, C. Gafa’, Cr. Attard, R. Grech (M. Vella), S. Fidelis (J. Camenzuli), P.A. Attard, D. Bellotti.

Qala S: 0

Butigieg, J. Rapa, M. Pace, F. Mumford, B. Meilak (L. Portelli), S. Dimech, S. Sillato, K. Kacoli, O. Pogukay, L. Meilak (C. Caruana), W. Cassar.

Gharb Rangers and Qala Saints shared the spoils from a goalless draw following a well contested encounter where the two sides had opportunities to win the match.  Qala surprised their more quoted opponents during the opening phase of the match but as time passed by Gharb recovered from the difficult start and shared play.  The two goalkeepers were probably the main protagonists of the match as they made decisive interventions so that the score remained unblocked.  The dying moments of the match were the most exciting of the ninety minutes as Gharb had their goalkeeper sent off but they failed to capitalise from a penalty kick seconds from the end of regular time.  On the other hand the Maroons also created good chances to score the decisive goal but they were erratic in their finishing.  The two sides were however rewarded for their efforts by earning a point each.

Qala were more aggressive in their play during the opening stages of the match and in the third minute a shot by Oleg Pogukay was neutralised by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Gharb’s goalie was again called to make two consecutive difficult interventions following two shots by Qala’s Pogukay and the action ended in a corner.  On 18 minutes a shot by Qala’s Luke Meilak from an angled position was saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri with the aid of the post and three minutes later the same striker had an attempt, following as short clearance by Gharb’s goalie to stop an effort by Kevin Kacoli, that ended wide.  Gharb replied on 31 minutes through a strike by Christian Attard that was well saved by goalie Franco Buttigieg and on 36 minutes Qala’s William Cassar failed to take advantage of some hesitation by Gharb’s defence and goalie Daniel Spiteri saved without difficulty.  Less than a minute later Gharb were again dangerous through a shot by Dylan Bellotti following a pass by Dylan Bellotti that was stopped by the post.  On 42 minutes Gharb’s Paul Anthony Attard entered the area after receiving from Dylan Bellotti but the attempt was cleared off the fatal line by Michael Pace with the goalkeeper beaten.  One minute later Qala’s goalie Franco Buttigieg turned to a corner with difficulty a shot from outside the area by Dylan Bellotti.

Gharb maintained their momentum from the initial stages of the second period and after fifteen seconds of play Gharb’s Paul Anthony Attard had a shot that ended wide.  On 47 minutes Qala’s keeper Franco Buttigieg saved well an effort by Dylan Bellotti after receiving from paul Anthony Attard and the same striker had a good shot on 52 minutes that ended just wide.  Qala operated a dangerous counter break on 62 minutes but Kevin Kocoli’s low cross was cleared from the goalmouth by defender Anthony Sultana.  Gharb however replied two minutes later through a shot by Paul Anthony Attard following a short clearance by Qala’s defence that ended wide. On 75 minutes Qala had a shot on the run by Steve Dimech that missed the target and three minutes later Gharb were reduced to ten players when goalkeeper Daniel Spiteri was sent off for retaliation on Qala’s Steve Dimech following notification by assistant referee Emanuel Calleja.  The Maroons tried to take advantage of the extra player.  On 87 minutes Gharb’s subtiute goalkeeper Michael Vella left his position in time to clear to a corner before Steve Dimech could conclude from an ideal position.  On 89 minutes Gharb had a golden scoring opportunity to score when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by John Rapa on Paul Anthony Attard but Christian Attard’s shot from the spot kick was saved by goalie Franco Buttigieg.  On the stroke of regular time Qala also had a good open scoring opportunity when Steve Dimech came face to face with the goalkeeper but the striker concluded high from close distance.

Referee: George Portelli