Sannat Obtain Second Win

GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Zebbug R: 0

Saliba, P. Camilleri, C. Bugeja, P. Falzon (C. Vella), C. Borg, M. Cordina, P. Cardona (O. Calleja), A. Zammit (J. Debrincat), G. Portelli, E. Nkwocha, I. Igwemeke.

Sannat L:  1    (A. Camilleri 47’)

Brignoli, J, Buttigieg, O. Xuereb, F. Xuereb, J. Agius, E. Gauci (D. Curmi), M. Muscat, D.U. Monday, A. Camilleri (I. Mampalao), A. Adesina (K. Bonnici), S. Baala.

Sannat Lions recovered from the disappointing draw of the previous match and earned the full at stake with a deserved win over Zebbug Rovers.  With this victory Sannat confirmed their ambitions to be among the amin challengers for promotion.  In this match Sannat created more scoring opportunities and could have paved the way to the victory during the first half.  However, Sannat were often erratic in their finishing and thus they did not manage had to put their minds at rest from the points at an earlier stage of the match.  On the other hand Zebbug failed to live up to the importance of the match.  They suffered Sannat’s play during the first part of the match and produced their best patch of play during the dying moments of the first half.  Zebbug’s reaction after conceding a goal during the opening minutes of the second half was weak although they remained in contention for a long time during the match and also could have saved the result following sporadic actions towards Sannat’s goal.

Sannat could have scored a goal during the opening stages of the encounter.  In the tenth minutes Sunday Baala avoided the offside and unmarked Antoine Camilleri but the latter had his shot that was stopped by the post despite having an open goal at his mercy.  Two minutes later Sannat had a shot by Ajibade Adesina that was saved by goalie Baskal Saliba and on 18 minutes the Lions were also unlucky when a long ranged strike by Eric Gauci was stopped by the crossbar.  Zebbug replied one minute later through a personal action by Ikechukwu Igwemeke but the striker had his low drive that was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  Play became more balanced and on 33 minutes Zebbug threatened Sannat’s rearguard but a shot by Manwel Cordina was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  Sannat replied two minutes later through an initiative by Mark Muscat but striker Antoine Camilleri concluded badly from an ideal position.

The Lions regained superiority on the field from the beginning of the second period and opened the score on 47 minutes when Antoine Camilleri entered Zebbug’s area with a personal effort and concluded in goal as he came face to face with the goalkeeper.  Zebbug seemed shocked and one minute later goalie Baskal Saliba was called to make a difficult intervention to turn to a corner a strike by Sannat’s Omar Xuereb from an angled position.  From the resultant corner Zebbug’s defender Christian Bugeja saved his goal when he cleared form the goalmouth a close ranged attempt by Sunday Baala.  On the hour mark Zebbug’s Ilechukwu Igwemeke had a good shot that was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli and the same striker had another good scoring opportunity three minutes later but the ball hit the post and ended wide.  Sannat could have doubled the score on 70 minutes but Ajibade Adesina had a low shot that was deflected to a corner by Zebbug’s defence with the goalkeeper beaten.  Sannat defended well during the final minutes of the encounter so that the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Referee: Emanuel Calleja