Kercem move to the fourth place

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Ghajnsielem : 0

M.M. Vella, J.J. Sandobal Guarin, K. Mercieca, D. Mercieca, A. Qualarbi, G. Tushe, S. Bajada, S.F. Bajada (K. Grima), J. Buttigieg, D. Hili (D. Atzori), O.D. Guererro Alvaraldo.

Kercrem A : 2 (O. Rolovic 18’, 30’)

B. Vrndic, P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, O. Rolovic, P. Taylor, E. Vella (D. Cassar), J.P. Mizzi, A. Mizzi, M. Mifsud (A. Zammit), N. Mercieca, J. Grech.

Kercem Ajax obtained an important win over Ghajnsielem and with the points obtained they moved over the same Blacks on the table.  This match was a direct clash between two sides aiming to get away from the red zone and therefore both Kercem and Ghajnsielem were aiming for the victory.  Kercem had some important changes in their side from their previous matches particularly by fielding experienced goalie Branko Vrndic and by regaining the service of amateur midfielder Philip Taylor who started the season with Ghajnsielem.  The Ajax seemed more competitive with this latest formation, which also included young players introduced form their nursery, and were more adventurous in their play during the opening stages.  Kercem also managed to score two goals by the half hour mark and managed to administer their lead until the final whistle.

During the first minutes of play the two sides tried to take control of the midfield and as time passed by Kercem prevailed over their opponents and on 15 minutes they also protested for a penalty when Andrew Mizzi tried to enter the area with a personal action but ended on the floor as soon as he was challenged by an opponent.  Kercem opened the score on 18 minutes through a direct free kick by Ognjen Rolovic that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.  Ghajnsielem replied two minutes later through a shot by Shaun Bajada that ended away from Kercem’s goal.  On 23 minutes the same Bajada had a shot from outside the area that was neutralised by Kercem’s goalie Branko Vrndic and on 29 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Kenneth Mercieca had a shot that got a deflection from a defender inside the area.  The Blacks protested for a penalty but the action ended in a corner.  From the resultant corner action, Kercem’s defence failed to clear the danger and at the end goalie Branko Vrndic turned the ball with difficulty into another corner.  Kercem doubled the score on the half hour mark when Andrew Mizzi entered Ghajnsielem’s territory in a counter break and had his attempt partially saved by goalie Matthew Vella.  Ognjen Rolovic took the ball from the rebound and netted with a low drive.  Ghajnsielem’s best opportunity to reduce the deficit before half time arrived on 33 minutes through a shot by Ali Qualarbi that ended just over Kercem’s goal.

Play continued to be quite balanced after the break as Kercem seemed in control of play.  On 48 minutes the Ajax had an attempt directly from a free kick taken by Ognjen Rolovic that ended high and on 56 minutes Ghajnsielem replied with a shot by Shaun Bajada, following an action between Ali Qualarbi and Damon Hili, that was saved to a corner with difficulty by Kercem’s goalie.  On 59 minutes Kercem’s Jean Paul Mizzi had a good shot that got a deflection and saved easily by Ghajnsielem’s keeper and four minutes later Ghajnsielem’s Damon Hili had a good shot form an angled position within Kercem’s area that ended wide.  Kercem could have scored the third goal on 73 minutes but a strike by Ognjen Rolovic following a personal action ended just wide.  Ghjajnsielem last opportunity to re-open the issue arrived on 77 minutes through a shot by Oscar Guaerrero Alvaraldo that ended wide.  Five minutes later the Blacks also ended with a player less on the field when Josiah Buttigieg was sent off for a second bookable offence.  In the first minute of stoppage time Kercem’s Ognjen Rolovic could have registered a personal hat-trick but goalie Matthew Vella made an effective intervention in two attempts to deny the opportunity to the striker from scoring.

Referee: Daniel Casha