St Lawrence Spurs Remain in Contention for Promotion with a Win over Neighbours

GFA BOV GFL Division II                                                                Kercem Ajax Stadium

Gharb R                     :           1          (A. Ofulue 56’pen)

1. Spiteri, C. Gafa’, M. Vella, Chr. Attard, P.A. Attard, J. Azzopardi, J. Muscat (J. Camenzuli), Crs. Attard, O. Farrugia, A. Ofulue, D. Bellotti.

St Lawrence S           :           2          (M.S. Telessi 16’, J. Portelli 28’)

1. Fenech, L. Buttigieg, S. Mizzi (J. Micallef), J. Theuma, M.S. Telessi, J. Portelli, D. Micallef, C. Mercieca, M. Mamo, C. Tabone (J. Grima), L. Attard.

St Lawrence Spurs recovered from the heavy defeat conceded in their previous match and earned the full points at stake from the direct clash against the other contenders for promotion Gharb Rangers.  With this result St Lawrence are now on equal points with the same Gharb and the two teams are just one point behind the leaders Sannat Lions.  St Lawrence paved the way to the victory with two goals scored during the first half.  Gharb had a good reaction after the break but they only managed to reduce the deficit and failed to save the result by scoring a second goal.

The Spurs took command of play from the early stages of the encounter and opened the score on 16 minutes through a header by Mohammed Senussi Telessi following a free kick by debutant Jason Portelli.  Gharb’s reaction was sterile and on 24 minutes a shot on the run by Marlon Mamo ended just over Gharb’s goal.  St Lawrence doubled the score on 28 minutes through a direct free kick by Jason Portelli that ended out of the reach of goalie Daniel Spiteri.

Gharb came out more aggressive after the break and on 54 minutes Andrew Ofulue released Oliver Farrugia inside St Lawrence’s territory but goalie Elliott Fenech left his position ion time and blocked the danger.  One minute later Gharb were awarded a penalty for a foul by Charles Mercieca on Andrew Ofulue and the same striker reopened the issue with his shot from the spot kick.  On 65 minutes Gharb could have levelled the score but a cross shot by Paul Anthony Attard ended on the roof of the net and six minutes later a goal by Gharb’s Andrew Ofulue was disallowed for an offside infringement.  St Lawrence went close to regain a two-goal lead on 80 minutes but a free kick by Jason Portelli was saved by Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.  One minutes later Gharb’s player-coach Michael Vella kept his side in contention when he cleared off the fatal line a weak attempt by Mohammed Telessi when the goalkeeper was out of his position.  On 88 minutes St Lawrence’s goalie Elliott Fenech saved the result for his side with a good intervention following a header by Oliver Farrugia and Gharb’s last scoring opportunity arrived in the first minute of stoppage time but Michael Vella’s header following a deflection by the defence from a free kick by Justin Azzopardi ended over the crossbar.

Referee: Dorian Caruana