Gharb Regain Co-leadership

GFA BOV GFL Division II                                                                            Sannat Ground

Gharb R         :           5          (A. Ofulue 22’, 30’, 88’; F. Attard 61’, 67’)

1. Spiteri, P.A. Attard, C. Gafa (Chs. Attard), J. Azzopardi, M. Vella, J. Portelli (R. Vella), Crs. Attard, D. Bellotti, J. Camenzuli, O. Farrugia (F. Attard), A. Ofulue.

Zebbug R       :           0

1. Saliba, G. Portelli, P. Camilleri, C. Borg, J. Debrincat, J.C. Vieira Peixoto, O. Calleja, A. Tabone, D. Portelli (C. Farrugia), C. Vella, E. Nkwocha.

Gharb Rangers obtained three deserved points from a handsome 5-0 win over Zebbug Rovers and with the points obtained there are once again sharing the leadership on the table with their challengers for promotion St Lawrence Spurs.  Gharb dominated over their opponents for most of the match.  The scored two goals during the first half and made sure of the victory with three other goals scored after the break.  Their striker Andrew Ofulue scored another hat-trick since he made his debut in Gozitan football in January and increased his tally to seventeen goals, just two goals behind the current top scorer of the category Mohammed Senussi Telessi of St Lawrence.

Zebbug almost surprised their opponents in the second minute of play when a strike by Juan Carlos Vieira Peixoto hit the crossbar, bounced on the fatal line and was saved in two attempts by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  As time passed by Gharb took command of play and on 12 minutes two consecutive attempts by Paul Anthony Attard and Oliver Farrugia were both blocked by goalie Baskal Saliba.  Three minutes later the same goalkeeper was well placed to block an attempt from outside the area by Dylan Bellotti.  Gharb opened the score on 22 minutes when Andrew Ofulue received the ball inside the area and fired in goal from close distance.  Zebbug replied two minutes later from a free kick that was cleared badly by the defence but Zebbug’s Josef Debrincat failed to take advantage and his header ended wide.  On 25 minutes Gharb’s Andrew Ofulue entered Zebbug’s area with a personal action but his low shot ended wide.  On 30 minutes Gharb doubled the score when Dylan Bellotti’s through pass was well stopped in the area by Andrew Ofulue and placed in goal with a low shot.  On 39 minutes Zebbug could have re-opened the issue but Juan Carlos Vieira Peixioto failed to connect to an inviting corner kick by Omar Calleja.

After the break Zebbug seemed more aggrieve in their approach and they were also dangerous on 51 minutes through an attempt by Chris Borg that was saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Four minutes later Gharb replied with a shot from outside the area by Christian Attard that was blocked by goalie Baskal Saliba and on 56 minutes Zebbug went again close to scoring through a free kick by Patrick Camilleri that was saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Three minutes later Gharb’s substitute Frank Attard released Andrew Ofulue inside Zebbug’s area but the latter concluded badly from close distance.  Gharb regained command of play and increased their lead on 61 minutes when Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba partially saved a strike from outside the area by Dylan Bellotti and from the rebound Frank Attard placed in goal from close distance.  Zebbug were demoralised and on 67 minutes Gharb scored their fourth goal when Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba blocked an attempt by Andfrew Ofulue who entered the area but the ball bounced on the same Ofulue and arrived to an unmarked Frank Attard who guided the ball into an open goal.  In the following minutes Gharb continued to created danger inside Zebbug’s area and on more than one occasion strikers Andrew Ofulue and Frank Attard had attempts from close distance that were either blocked or ended wide.  Zebbug had their best opportunity to score a consolation goal on 82 minutes when Josef Debrincat won the ball from Gharb’s defence but his attempt towards an open goal ended over the crossbar.  Gharb sealed the victory by scoring the fifth goal on 88 minutes when Andrew Ofulue entered the area with a personal action and concluded in goal with a low shot.

Referee: Dorian Caruana