Xaghra held to a draw

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II

Kercem Ajax Stadium- 23 February 2019

St Lawrence S FC : 1 (M. Fagbeja 73’)

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

Xaghra U FC : 1 (J. Camilleri 22‘)

Attard, J. Bajada, J. Xiberras, D. Bajada, K. Hili (J. Attard), J. Camilleri (S. Bonello), M. Mamo, S.F. Bajada, G. Farrugia, T.M.F. Dos Santos (S. Sultana), J.G. Vella.

MATCH REPORT

Xaghra United lost an opportunity to keep their pressure on the leaders of the table Sannat Lions as they dropped two precious points from their match against St Lawrence Spurs.  This was the last match of the third round for the two sides where Xaghra were aiming for the win as they are serious challengers for promotion, while the Spurs are currently trying to consolidate their third spot on the table and make up for their disappointing results during the first two rounds of the campaign, which included two close defeats form the matches against the same Xaghra.  In this match, Xaghra seemed to head towards a win as they scored an early goal and administered the lead with some confidence. However, as time passed by the Spurs started to share play and after the break, they also managed to create some pressure on Xaghra’s defence so that their efforts were rewarded and managed to score the equaliser.

During the opening minutes of the encounter, the Spurs were more offensive but their play did not produce any serious danger to Xaghra’s defence.  Xaghra created the first scoring opportunity fo the encounter on 14 minutes through a direct corner kick by Joseph George Vella that ended on the crossbar.  Xaghra, however, opened the score on 21 minutes through a shot from outside the area by Johnny Camilleri, who also marked his 300th personal goal in his career.  Five minutes later Xaghra could have doubled the score but a cross-shot by Joseph George Vella from a good position ended high.  On 29 minutes Xaghra’s Johnny Camilleri went again close to scoring through a low shot from inside the area that ended just wide and St Lawrence produced their best scoring opportunity of the first half on 34 minutes but a strike by Muda Fagbeja hit the post and the ball ended wide so that the first half ended with Xaghra enjoying a deserved one-goal lead.

After the resumption, Xaghra tried to increase their intensity of play and on 56 minutes they had a goal by Jonathan Xiberras that was disallowed for an offside.  The Spurs, however, replied with some effective breaks and for some time they also created pressure on Xaghra’s defence. On 63 minutes St Lawrence were also dangerous but a strike by substitute Simon Sultana ended just wide.  Three minutes later the Spurs also had a goal by Jason Theuma that was disallowed for an offside but on 73 minutes St Lawrence levelled the score through a fine shot by Muda Fagbeja that ended out of the reach of Xaghra’s keeper.  During the remaining minutes, the two sides tried hard to score another goal in an attempt to earn the full points at stake.  The best scoring opportunity arrived to Xaghra’s Gabriel Farrugia in the fourth minute of stoppage time but the young striker saw his shot from a good position ended wide.

Referee: Eucharist Portelli