Gharb Rangers Win Direct Clash and Re-join the Race for Promotion

GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Gharb R         :           2          (D. Bellotti 38’, R. Grech 43’)

1. Spiteri, R. Vella (A. Sultana), P.A. Attard, J. Azzopardi, M. Vella, C. Gafa’, Cr. Attard, R. Grech (J. Camenzuli), F. Attard (Js. Muscat), D. Bellotti, A. Ofulue.

Sannat L        :           0

1. Brignoli, J. Agius (E. Gauci), F. Xuereb, D.U. Monday, N. Micallef (K. Bonnici), J. Buttigieg (D. Borg), M. Muscat, O. Xuereb, A. Adesina, A. Camilleri, S. Baala.

In the main match from the campaign of the weekend harb Rangers obtained an important win over Sannat Lions and practically opened the challenge for promotion for three teams.  Gharb needed a victory from this match tom join the same Sannat and St Lawrence on equal points at the top of the table, while Sannat were aiming to obtain a positive result in an attempt to defend the sole leadership they enjoyed in the previous weeks.  Play was quite balanced for most of the encounter but Gharb managed to clinch the full points at stake with two goals that arrived during the final stages of the first half.

Sannat seemed in a better shape during the first part of the match but they found it difficult to create serious attempts at goal.  The closest that Sannat went to scoring during the first half was on 25 minutes through a header by Fabian Xuereb from a corner action that ended high.  Gharb took command of play during the final stages of the first half.  On 27 minutes a shot by Christian Attard from a good position missed the target and on 35 minutes the same Attard had an attempt that was well saved by goalie Christian Attard.  Two minutes later Gharb’s Andrew Ofulue produced a personal action inside Sannat’s area but his shot ended just wide.  Gharb opened the score on 38 minutes when Andrew Ofulue released Dylan Bellotti inside Sannat’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.  Gharb doubled the score five minutes later when Sannat’s defence cleared badly the ball from the area following a corner action and Ryan Grech took the ball from outside the area and netted with a low shot.

After the break Sannat came out more aggressive in an attempt to recover the deficit but on 47 minutes Gharb produced a counter break but Frank Attard’s shot ended high.  Sannat increased their efforts as time passed but they became erratic in their finishing.  On 68 minutes a free kick by Omar Xuereb ended wide and on 70 minutes two consecutive attempts from close distance by Sunday Baala and David Udo Monday from a free kick by Josiah Buttigieg were both blocked by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Sannat went again close to scoring on 79 minutes but Sunday Baala headed badly from close distance following a cross by substitute Eric Gauci and two minutes later the same Gauci had a good shot following a confused action that was blocked by Gharb’s defence.  On 82 minutes a goal by Sunnat’s Sunday Baala was disallowed for an offside and the last scoring opportunity for Sannat to re-open the issue arrived on 89 minutes through a free kick by David Udo Monday that ended high.

Referee: Ray Tabone