St Lawrence regain hope to join the title race

GFA BOV Gozo Football league Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

St Lawrence S : 3 (C. Farrugia 15’ pen., R. Duric 38’, 50’)

L. Buttigieg, S. Mizzi, K. Hili, R. Duric, J. Theuma, C. Cauchi (S. Sultana), C. Azzopardi, J. Grima, D. Micallef, C. Farrugia (L. Attard), C. Tabone (L. Pisani).

Qala S : 1 (M. Niakate 56’)

J. Curmi, J. Buttigieg, J. Cutajar (M. Pace), J. Attard, F. Mumford, S. Sillato, C. Caruana (J. Cutajar), M. Mumford, G. Sillato, J. Mifsud, M. Niakate.

St Lawrence Spurs re-opened their chances to join the tussle for promotion with three points obtained from a convincing 3-1 win over bottom placed Qala Saints.  This was St Lawrence’s third consecutive win and with the points obtained they managed to make up for the disappointing results obtained during the matches from the second round of the campaign.  The Spurs are going through a fine form where they manage to impose their play from the midfield and as a result they create serious danger through their strikers.  The Spurs however are struggling to gain the necessary confidence in their defensive department.  In these last matches St Lawrence never end a match with a clean sheet since they conceded at least a goal even in matches where they were dominant over their opponent.  St Lawrence’s pattern was repeated in this match against Qala Saints.  They held total command of play, opened a comfortable three-goal lead but lost composure during the last part of the match where they not only suffered a goal but also risked to concede another.

The Spurs took command of play from the very beginning and went close to scoring in the first minute of play but a close ranged shot by Kenny Hili following an inviting cross by debutant Radovan Duric ended just high.  On 15 minutes St Lawrence were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joseph Cutajar on Charlon Farrugia and the latter opened the score with his shot from the spot kick.  On 22 minutes Qala’s keeper Jonathan Curmi was well placed to save to a corner a shot by Charlon Farrugia.  Qala threatened St Lawrence’s rear guard on the half hour mark through a low shot by Christoph Caruana that was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg.  The Spurs doubled the score on 38 minutes when Radovan Duric took opportunity from some hesitation within Qala’s defence and netted with a low shot.

After the resumption Qala continued to suffer St Lawrence’s play.  On 50 minutes the Spurs added another goal when Charlon Tabone entered the area from the left flank and had his low drive addressed to the far post that was partially saved by goalie Jonathan Curmi and from the rebound Radovan Duric netted with a low shot.  Qala scored their goal on 56 minutes when Modibo Niakate produced a personal action from the left flank and placed in goal as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.  On 67 minutes Qala were also reduced to ten players when Gabriel Sillato was sent off for dissent but during the final stages the Maroons still managed to put some pressure on St Lawrence’s rear guard but they failed to create serious scoring opportunities and the Spurs defended their two-goal lead with authority.

Referee: Max-Lee Muscat