Sannat reduce gap from leaders to one pint

GFA Gozo Football League Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Xaghra U : 0

F. Azzopardi, D. Bajada, S. Sultana, S. Galea, M. Galea, J. Bajada, A. Xiberras, S. Bonello, C. Hili (L. Attard), J. Xerri (E. Xiberras), G. Farrugia (J. Xiberras).

Sannat L : 5 (A. Camilleri 48’, 71’, 84’; M. Portelli 56’pen., J. Zammit 90+1’)

O. Attard, F. Xuereb, F. Camilleri, J. Agius, D. Borg (E. Gauci), J. Buttigieg, M. Portelli, M. Muscat (J. Bonnici), O. Farrugia (J. Zammit), A. Camilleri, H. Yoshida.

Sannat Lions took full advantage of the defeat conceded by leaders Munxar Falcons and earned the full points at stake form a 5-0 win over bottom placed Xaghra United.  With this result Sannat are just one point behind the same Munxar and confirmed their status as serious challengers for the promotion at the end of the second round of the campaign.  Sannat found it difficult to take command of play during the first period but they came out more determined after the break and earned the victory with five goals scored during the second period.

Sannat created a good scoring opportunity after just twenty seconds of play through a strike by debutant Hikara Yoshida that ended just wide.  Sannat went again close to scoring on 23 minutes through a shot by Josiah Buttigieg that was saved in two attempts by goalie Frankie Azzopardi.  Three minutes later Sannat’s Oliver Farrugia had an effort that missed the target and on 33 minutes Antoine Camilleri passed around Xaghra’s keeper just outside the area but failed to conclude towards an open goal as Xaghra’s defence recovered and cleared the danger.  Sannat increased their efforts during the last part of the first half and on 35 minutes Xaghra’s keeper Frankie Azzopardi was called to make a good intervention to turn to a corner a header by Antoine Camilleri following a corner kick by Matthew Portelli.  The same goalkeeper was well placed on 39 minutes to neutralise an attempt by HikaraYoshida and one minute later Sannat’s Antoine Camilleri had an attempt from close distance that ended high.

After the break Sannat were determined to make up for the missed chances of the first half.  They opened the score on 48 minutes through Antoine Camilleri who was released within Xaghra’s territory by Hikara Yoshida and the former placed in goal with a low shot.  On 56 minutes Sannat were awarded a penalty for a foul by Manwel Galea on Antoine Camilleri and Matthew Portelli converted from the spot kick.  On 64 minutes Xaghra’s keeper was surprised by a clearance from the midfield and was also disturbed by Antoine Camilleri.  The ball ended into an open net but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.  Two minutes later a header by Sannat’s Oliver Farrugia from a corner kick by Matthew Portelli was stopped by the post but Sannat increased their lead on 71 minutes through a lob by Antoine Camilleri.  On 84 minutes the same Antoine Camilleri registered a personal hat-trick and scored the fourth goal for his side with a low shot after receiving from substitute Joseph Zammit.  In the following minutes Sannat’s substitutes Eric Gauci and Joseph Zammit had good attempts that were blocked by Xaghra’s defence but Joseph Zammit sealed the victory for Sannat by scoring the fifth goal in the first minute of stoppage time when goalie Frankie Azzoaprdi partially saved a strike by Antoine Camilleri and the young striker converted from the rebound.

Referee: Eucharist Portelli