St Lawrence, Zebbug ends season on a positive note

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II

Gozo Stadium – 25th April 2018

MATCH DETAILS

St Lawrence S : 3 (F. Cini 35’, 54’; C. Borg 40’)

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

Zebbug R : 3 (R. Duric 3’, 11’; K. Hili 77’)

Saliba, G. Portelli, F. Cini, C. Borg, P. Camilleri, B. Perello Palou, C. Vella, A. Buttigieg, C. Farrugia, L. Farrugia (O. Mercieca), M. Formosa (J. Muscat).

MATCH REPORT

St Lawrence Spurs and Zebbug Rovers shared the spoils in a draw of six goals in the last match of the campaign for the two sides so that they managed to end the season with a positive result.  The two sides had their final placing on the table determined in the previous matches as St Lawrence ended the campaign at the third spot on the table while Zebbug finished at the fourth place.  Both St Lawrence and Zebbug expected to be more competitive this season but failed to remain among the challengers for promotion and therefore both sides were aiming to end the campaign with a win.  The final score was ultimately a just result as both teams tried hard to obtain the win.

St Lawrence had a better start and opened the sore in the third minute of play through a shot from an angled position by Radovan Duric.  Zebbug continued to suffer St Lawrence’s play during the opening stages of the encounter and on 11 minutes the Spurs doubled the score through a header by Radovan Duric following a corner kick by Kenny Hili.  Zebbug managed to recover from the difficult start and on 23 minutes a shot from outside the area by Francesco Cini ended just over the crossbar.  On 34 minutes St Lawrence’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was well placed to block a shot from an angled position by Bartomeo Perello Palou. One minute later Zebbug re-opened the issue when a shot from an angled position by Chris Borg was partially saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg and from the rebound the ball arrived to Francesco Cini who had his shot that got a deflection form the defence and the ball ended in goal.  On 37 minutes Zebbug went again close to scoring when Chris Borg entered St Lawrence’s territory but his lob over the goalkeeper ended high.  Zebbug however scored the equaliser on 40 minutes with a lob by Chris Borg over St Lawrence’s keeper who was out of his position.

The match during the second period became more interesting with regard to the final outcome as the two sides tried to take the lead.  On 47 minutes Zebbug were dangerous through a shot by Lucas Farrugia that was deflected to a corner by the defence. Zebbug took the lead on 54 minutes through a strike by Francesco Cini that surprised St Lawrence’s goalie.  One minute alter Zebbug could have added another goal but an attempt by Lucas Farrugia was saved in two attempts by goalie Luke Buttigieg.  St Lawrence’s goalie Luke Buttigieg once again kept his side in contention with two consecutive saves following two shots by Chris Borg on 71 minutes who took the ball from a short clearance by the defence.  St Lawrence replied on 74 minutes with a cross shot by Kenny Hili that was stopped by the crossbar. The Spurs levelled the score on 77 minutes when Radovan Duric unmarked Kenny Hili inside Zebbug’s area and the latter placed easily into an open goal.  During the final minutes the two sides had a scoring opportunity to regain the lead.  On 87 minutes a shot y Zebbug’s George Portelli ended high and two minutes later St Lawrence’s Carlton Mifsud had his shot well saved by Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Eucharist Portelli