Ghajnsielem and Kercem Fail to Keep Close to the Leaders

GFA BOV GFL Division II
Sannat Ground

Ghajnsielem  :           1          (J. Camilleri 57’)

1. Buttigieg, F. Apap, J.J. Sandoval Guarin, E.D. Bilboa Zarate, C. Camilleri, S. Cassar, D. Toure, E.P. Lattes, K. Mercieca, D. Hili (K. Hili), J. Camilleri.

Kercem A       :           1          (A. Mizzi 76’)

1. Vella, O. Spiteri, P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, A. Buttigieg, J.P. Mizzi, A. Mizzi, J. Buttigieg (L. Grima), P. Taylor, N. Bahiya (E. Vella), T. Grozev.

In the main match of match/day ten of the championship Ghajnsielem and Kercem Ajax shared the spoils in a draw of two goals.  The match was played at Sannat Ground since the pitch at the Gozo Stadium was flooded due to the heavy rain.  With the result of this clash from the upper part of the table the joint leaders Xewkija Tigers and Nadur Youngsters increased their gap from the other contenders for the title.

Both Ghajnsielem and Kercem were aiming to win the full points at stake from this match in an attempt to remain close to the current front runners of the category.  However, the match turned out into a balanced match where the victory could have gone either way.  Ghajnsielem created more scoring opportunities particularly during the final stages of the first half but they were often erratic in their finishing.  The Blacks opened the score before the hour mark but suffered Kercem’s reaction.  Kercem’s efforts were also rewarded with the equaliser but at the end of the encounter the two sides left the field disappointed with the result.

Ghajnsileem, who had Demba Toure who was making his debut, seemed in a better shape during the opening minutes.  However, Kercem defended well and created the best scoring opportunities during the initial stages of the encounter.  On 9 minutes a shot by Joshua Buttigieg ended wide and two minutes later Andrew Mizzi entered Ghajnsielem’s area but his low drive addressed to the far post ended wide.  On 15 minutes Ghajnsielem’s central defender Ferdinando Apap made a god recovery and blocked to a corner a shot from a good position by Nelson Bahiya.  As time passed by Ghajnsielem started to become more dangerous.  On 23 minutes a strike from an angled position by Chris Camilleri was cleared to a corner by Petar Kyumyurdzhiev and 33 minutes Kercem’s defence failed to clear a corner kick by Edison Bilboa Zarate but Stefan Cassar’s shot ended wide.  The same Cassar had another good strike one minute later but the ball just missed the target and on 38 minutes Demba Tpoure released Chris Camilleri inside Kercem’s area but the latter concluded wide from an ideal position.  Ghajnsielem went again close to scoring an 41 minutes when an attempt by Jon Jairo Sandoval Guarin from a free kick by Chris Camilleri was blocked by the defence and from the rebound Stefan Cassar had his attempt deflected to a corner.  Two minutes later Ghajnsielem’s Edison Bilboa Zarate had a curling shot that ended wide so that the first half ended in a goalless draw.

The Blacks tried to maintain their momentum after the break and on 54 minutes Kercem’s goalie Franklin Vella was well placed to block an attempt by Chris Camilleri and from the resultant action a shot on the run by Damon Hili missed the target.  On 57 minutes Ghajnsielem broke the deadlock as John Camilleri entered Kercem’s territory following a long through pass, the striker turned around the goalkeeper outside the area and placed in goal with a low shot.  Kercem managed to recover from the difficult moment and as time passed by they started to produce danger towards Ghajnsielem’s goal.  On 65 minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was called to make a good intervention to save a header by Philip Taylor following a corner kick by substitute Elton Vella.  Kercem levelled the score on 76 minutes when Andrew Mizzi took the ball inside Ghajnsielem’s area following a long through ball and the young striker netted with a low shot from an angled position.  Until the end of the match the two sides tried to score a goal that could have turned out to be decisive but the defensive departments were often in control of the respective strikers.  Kercem’s best opportunity to obtain the victory arrived on 84 minutes through a free kick by Trayo Grozev that was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg while Ghajnsielem replied on 88 minutes through a header by Demba Toure that ended wide.

Referee: Clayton Pisani