Xaghra obtain a close win in their last match of the second round

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II

MATCH DETAILS

Kercem Ajax Stadium – 5 January 2019

Xaghra U FC: 1 (S.R. Gabriele 34’)

Attard, J. Bajada, D. Bajada, J. Camilleri, S. Sultana (J. Attard), S. Bonello, S.R. Gabriel, M. Mamo, S. F. Bajada, J. Xiberras, G. Farrugia (K. Hili).

St Lawrence S FC: 0

Brignoli, C. Mercieca, S. Sultana, A. Xiberras, M. Fagbeja, C. Cauchi, C. Azzopardi, J. Grima, D. Micallef, M. Zerafa, L. Attard (L. Buttigieg).

MATCH REPORT

Xaghra United ended the first half of the campaign on a positive note and certain of the top spot on the table with three very important points obtained from a 1-0 win over St Lawrence Spurs.  In this match Xaghra confirmed the improvement registered since the beginning of the league and managed to clinch the win as they seemed more experience to hold firm during difficult moments. This match was practically the last opportunity for St Lawrence to re-join the race for promotion and it was also the first match for their coach Paul Camilleri who was appointed in the role during the Christmas break.  St Lawrence tried hard to obtain a positive result but they still seemed very weak in attack and found it very difficult to convert their play in serious scoring opportunities. With this result the Spurs are eight points away from the top position and therefore it becomes very difficult to be challengers for the main honour of the category.

St Lawrence tried to surprise to surprise their opponents and during the initial stages of the match they saw more off the ball.  However, Xaghra’s defence was well organised and their goalkeeper was not called to make very difficult interventions to protect his goal.  Xaghra created the first goal scoring opportunity of the encounter that arrived on 27 minutes but a free kick by Johnny Camilleri was well saved by St Lawrence’s goalie Angelo Brignoli.  The Spurs repaid three minutes later with a strike form outside the area by Adrian Xiberras that was blocked by goalie Owen Attard and four minutes later Xaghra opened the score through a low shot form an unmarked position by Samson Remi Gabriel after receiving from Johnny Camilleri.  On 39 minutes Xaghra could have added another goal but a shot by David Bajada was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  The Spurs had their best opportunity to level the score on 43 minutes but a free kick by James Grima was saved with difficulty by goalie Owen Attard.

Play continued to take place in the midfield after the resumption as the Spurs found it very difficult to threaten Xaghra’s goal.  The latter were well deployed and also produced the best scoring opportunities of the second half particularly with counter breaks.  On 68 minutes a good shot from outside the area by Silvan Bonello ended just over St Lawrence’s goal and one minute later St Lawrence’s goalie Angleo Brignoli neutralised a strike by Xaghra’s Jonathan Xiberras.  Xaghra were again dangerous on 76 minutes but a shot from an ideal position by Johnny Camilleri ended wide. The same Johnny Camilleri could have made sure of the win for Xaghra with a second goal on 87 minutes but his attempt from close distance was well blocked by St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli.

Referee: Massimo Axisa