Hotspurs extend their lead to twelve points

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Kercem A : 0

B. Vrndic, D. Chaves Flores (G. Attard), M. Mifsud, A. Mizzi, J.P. Mizzi, M. Tabone, A. Simoncic (A.M. Attard), J. Grech, N. Mercieca, A. Zammit (C. Grima), D. Cassar.

Victoria H : 5 (C. Mercieca 7’, 45’; E. Da Silva 56’, E. Lattes 81’, G.D. Lombas 86’)

A. Parnis, J. Tabone, J. Bajada, K. Farrugia (S.F. Bajada), D. Sowatey, F. Apap (A. Azzopardi), C. Mercieca, E. Lattes, A. Debrincat (J. Camilleri), E. Da Silva, G. Dwomoh Lombas.

Victoria Hotspurs obtained a convincing win over Kercem Ajax in the last match from match-day 16 of the championship and took advantage of the points dropped by second placed Nadur Youngsters so that they may become mathematically champions in the next two matches.  The victory for the Hotspurs arrived with the least possible effort.  They opened the score at an early stage of the encounter and doubled the score seconds before half time so that they continued to dominate after the break and expressed their supremacy by scoring more goals.

The Hotspurs were more aggressive in their play and opened the score on 7 minutes through a low shot by Christian Mercieca who was released inside Kercem’s area by Galder Dwomoh Lombas.  Kercem’s reaction was sterile and on 17 minutes the Hotspurs went again close to scoring but Andrea Debrincat’s header following a cross by Christian Mercieca ended high.  Three minutes later Kercem’s keeper Branko Vrndic was well placed to turn to a corner a shot by Elton Da Silva and on the half hour mark the same Brazilian striker, who is also the top scorer of the category, had an attempt form a free kick that ended high.  Five minute later a shot by Galder Dwomoh Lombas following a corner action was blocked with difficulty by the defence and on 36 minutes Emiliano lattes hit badly from a good position and goalie Branko Vrndic saved without difficulty.  The same goalkeeper was well placed on 44 minutes to neutralise another attempt by Galder Dwomoh Lombas but one minute later the Hotspurs doubled the score when Elton Da Silva entered Kercem’s area with a personal action but had his lob partially saved by the goalkeeper, the same Da Silva took the ball and form his cross Christian Mercieca headed easily into an open goal.

Kercem continued to suffer Victoria’s play from the early stages of the second period.  On 50 minutes goalie Branko Vrindic saved well a shot by Galder Dwomoh Lombas after receiving from Emiliano Lattes and on 56 minutes he Citizens increased their lead with a typical curling shot by Elton Da Silva who entered the area with a personal action.  Kercem’s best opportunity to score a consolation goal arrived on the hour mark through an attempt by Andrew Mizzi that was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Arian Parnis.  On 64 minutes a shot by Elton Da Silva was once again saved by the goalkeeper and two minutes later a shot by Emiliano Lattes form close distance was deflected to a corner by Kercem’s defence.  The Hotspurs went very close to add another goal on 69 minutes when substitute John Camilleri entered Kercem’s area, turned around the goalkeeper but his low drive was cleared from the goalmouth by Kercem’s defender Nathaniel Mercieca who also denied Christian Mercieca from a tap-in.  In another action by the Hotspurs that arrived on 73 minutes a shot by Galder Dwomoh Lombas ended high but on 81 minutes the same Spanish striker receiving the ball inside Kercem’s area and left the ball to Emiliano Lattes who fired in goal with a low shot.  The Hotspurs scored their fifth goal on 86 minutes when Galder Dwomoh Lombas controlled the ball following a cross by John Camilleri and placed easily in goal from close distance.