Hotspurs register their eleventh win from twelve matches

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Victoria H : 5 (E. Da Silva 22’, F. Apap 35’, C. Mercieca 41’, C. Camilleri 64’, A. Debrincat 88’)

A. Parnis, J. Pace, J. Bajada, K. Farrugia, D. Sowatey, F. Apap (S.F. Bajada), C. Mercieca, E. Lattes, E. Da Silva (J. Camilleri), H. Maciel, C. Camilleri (A. Debrincat).

Kercem A : 0

J.P. Cassar, A. Mizzi, A. Haska, D. Chavez Flores, E. Vella (A. Zammit), J.P. Mizzi (D. Cassar), N. Mercieca (O. Spiteri),, M. Tabone, M. Mifsud, M. Perisic, P. Taylor.

Victoria Hotspurs registered an impressive 5-0 win over Kercem Ajax and extended their excellent run in the championship so that they not only remain leaders on the table with a comfortable lead over their rivals but are also the only undefeated side in the top flight.  The Hotspurs once again expressed their superiority in the championship by obtained the full points through a large win.  The hot favourites for the title practically made sure of the victory by scoring three goals during the first half and added two more during the second period.  In this match Kercem seemed very weak and they rarely threatened Victoria’s defence so that they became demoralised and never managed to give the impression that they could save the result.

The Hotspurs produced their first serious scoring opportunity in the second minute of play through a low shot by Christian Mercieca following a personal action that ended wide.  One minutes later a header by Victoria’s Ferdinando Apap was well blocked by goalie John Paul Cassar and on 6 minutes Kercem’s Alen Haska entered Victoria’s area from the left flank but his attempt from an angled position was saved to a corner by goalie Adrian Parnis.  Kercem had their best scoring opportunity of the match in the eighth minute when a header by Andrew Mizzi following a corner kick by Elton Vella that was stopped by the crossbar.  On 14 minutes the Hotspurs were also unlucky when a cross-shot by Chris Camilleri also hit the crossbar and from the resultant action a header by Ferdinando Apap was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie John Paul Cassar.  The Hotspurs opened the score on 22 minutes with a header from close distance by Elton Da Silva following a cross from inside the area by Christian Mercieca.  On 31 minutes Kercem protested for a penalty when Andrew Mizzi ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge with Ferdinando Apap and on 35 minutes the Hotspurs doubled the score through a fine header by Ferdinando Apap following a free kick from long distance by Chris Camilleri.  Kercem continued to suffer Victoria’s play and on 41 minutes defender Mario Mifsud had a back pass aimed to his goalkeeper that was intercepted by Christian Mercieca who entered the area and netted with a low shot to make the score 3-0.

The match lost much of the interest after the break as the Hotspurs seemed in full control of play.  On 52 minutes a shot by Elton Da Silva ended away from Kercem’s goal and one minute later Kercem’s goalie John Paul Cassar saved with some difficulty a free kick by Chris Camilleri.  Victoria added another goal on 64 minutes through a lob by Chris Camilleri who entered Kercem’s territory with a personal effort.  The fifth goal of the match arrived on 77minutes through substitute Andrea Debrincat who arrived on the ball at the edge of the area before goalie John Paul Cassar and placed easily into an open goal.  The Hotpsurs ended the match on a negative note as they had Jonathan Bajada who was sent off on 81 minutes for a second bookable offence.

Referee: Daniel Casha