St Lawrence Back in the Reckoning

Sannat L: 0
Brignoli, J. Buttigieg, O. Xuereb, F. Xuereb, J. Agus, D.U. Monday, D. Borg (K. Bonnici), M. Muscat, S. Baala, A. Adesina, A. Camilleri.

St Lawrence S: 1       (M.S. Telessi 62’)

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

St Lawrence Spurs had an excellent start to the second round of the campaign and earned the full points at stake from their match against current leaders Sannat Lions.  The Spurs therefore moved to just one point behind the top position and re-opened their chances to challenge for promotion.  This was also Sannat’s first defeat in the campaign.

The Spurs deserved the victory.  They were determined to make up for the defeat conceded against Sannat in the match between the two sides of the first round and held territorial supremacy for the first hour of play.  The Spurs scored the decisive goal just after the hour of play and administered play and resisted to Sannat’s reaction for the rest of the encounter.  Sannat however disappointed in this match.  They tried to control play at their defence and operate with counter breaks but they ended up suffering St Lawrence effective deployment in the midfield and their strikers were not supported so that they only managed to create danger within St Lawrence’s area once they conceded St Lawrence’s goal.

St Lawrence could have opened the score in the second minute of play but a header by Mohammed Senussi Telessi following a corner kick by James Grima was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  On 15 minutes Sannat failed to capitalise from some hesitation at St Lawrence’s defence and Sunday Baala concluded wide with an open goal at his mercy.  The Spurs went again close to scoring on 36 minutes through a shot by Jason Theuma that ended just wide and less than a minute later a shot by Sannat’s Mark Muscat following a short clearance by St Lawrence’s goalie Elliott Fenech was cleared off the fatal line by Daniel Micallef.

St Lawre3nce increased their pressure on Sannat’s defence but they found it difficult to create good scoring opportunities.  However, their efforts were rewarded on 62 minutes when Mohammed Senussi Telessi took the ball in the area and fired in goal with a low drive.  Sannat’s reaction arrived during the final stages of the encounter.  On 77 minutes they also failed to take advantage of a good scoring opportunity when Sunday Baal came face to face with the goalkeeper but the striker failed to hit the ball towards goal so that the defence recovered and cleared the danger.  On 81 minutes a shot by substitute Kenneth Bonnici ended just wide from St Lawrence’s goal and on 88 minute Sannat were unlucky when an attempt by Ajibade Adesina following a corner action hit the crossbar.  Sannat last opportunity to save the result arrived in the first minute of stoppage time through a close ranged attempt by Kenneth Bonnici that was neutralised by goalie Elliott Fenech.

Referee: Darko Stankovic >