St Lawrence End the First round on a Positive Note

GFA BOV GFL DIVISION II
Sannat Ground

St Lawrence S   :        4       (M.S. Telessi 11’pen., 90+2’; C. Bugeja o.g. 43’, L. Attard 86’)

Fenech, L. Buttigieg, J. Micallef (S. Sultana), S. Mizzi, J. Theuma, M.S. Telessi (J. Grima), C. Cardona, J. Micallef, J. Grech, C. Tabone, L. Attard (E. Portelli).

Zebbug R            :        1       (I. Igwemeke 6’)

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

St Lawrence Sours re-opened their chances to join the challengers for promotion with the points obtained from a 4-1 win over Zebbug Rovers.  This match was considered a direct clash between two teams who needed a victory to keep close to the top positions and both needed to recover from the inconsistent start in the campaign.  The match was well contested for long stretches but the Spurs produced more dangerous actions and made sure of the deserve win with two goals scored in the final stages of the encounter.

Zebbug had an excellent start and opened the score on 6 minutes through a half volley by Ikechukwu Igwemeke following a cross by Josef Debrincat.  Two minutes later the same Debrincat another good move from the right flank but on this occasion from his cross Christian Vella failed to hit the target.  On 10 minutes St Lawrence went close to scoring but a low shot by Mohammed Senussi Telessi was well saved by goalie Baskal Saliba.  One minute later the Spurs were awarded a penalty when Mohammed Senussi Telessi was floored in the area by Zebbug’s defender Christian Bugeja and the same striker converted from the spot kick to make it 1-1.  St Lawrence grew in confidence and on 24 minutes they were dangerous through a shot by Luke Attard that ended high.  Two minutes later Zebbug replied with a shot from an angled position by Chris Borg, following a prolonged action inside St Lawrence’s area that ended high.  On 37 minutes St Lawrence’s goalie Elliott Fenech made a good save to neutralise a header by Josef Debrincat following a free kick by Manwel Cordina and on 40 minutes the Spurs had an attempt by Charlon Tabone that was saved by Zebbug’s keeper.  St Lawrence turned the result in their favour on 43 minutes when Zebbug’s defender Christian Bugeja committed an own goal in his attempt to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a corner kick by Jason Theuma.

Play continued to be balanced after the break and on 65 minutes the Spurs had a goal by Mohammed Senussi Telessi that was disallowed for an offside infringement.  Five minutes later Zebbug’s Ikechukwu Igwemeke had a header form a free kick by Manwel Cordina that ended wide and on 78 minutes Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba jkept his side in contention with a fine intervention following a shot by Johnny Grech.  Less than a minute alter Zebbug had an attempt through Omar Calleja that ended over the crossbar.  St Lawrence took full command of play during the last part of the match.  On 81 minutes a curling shot by Charlon Tabone ended away from Zebbug’s goal but five minutes later the Spurs managed to scored their third goal through a close ranged shot by Luke Attard following a prolonged action inside Zebbug area resulting from an initiative by Mohammed Senussi Telessi.  St Lawrence’s Mohammed Senussi Telessi sealed the victory by scoring the fourth goal for his side in the second minute of stoppage time when he concluded in goa, with a low shot following a personal action.

Referee: Dorian Caruana