Close win puts Xaghra on top

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II

Gozo Stadium – 19 March 2019

Xaghra U FC : 2 (J.G. Vella 44’, M.M. Uzor 76)

Attard, D. Bajada, S. Galea, J. Camilleri (S. Sultana), M. Mamo, S. F. Bajada,J. Xiberras, G. Farrugia (S. Bonello), A. Farrugia (K. Hili), M.M. Uzur, J.G.  Vella.

Oratory Y FC : 1 (L. C. Carvalho Da Silva 65)

Sammut, E. Buttigieg, J. Attard, K. Farrugia, F. Cini (S. Curmi),  A. Zammit, S. Azzopardi, O. Saliba, P. Rapa, M. Zammit (J. M. Portelli), L. C. Carvalho Da Silva.

MATCH REPORT

Xaghra United took immediate advantage of the defeat conceded by Sannat Lions at the expensed of Zebbug Rovers and the Blues earned the full points at stake from a 2-1 win over Oratory Youths.  With this result Xaghra took command of the table but their challengers Sannat have a game in hand. Xaghra’s win was hard earned as they found it more difficult than expected to impose their superiority over Oratory so that the Youths remained n in contention to earn at least a point form this encounter until the final whistle.

Xaghra came out more determined and tried to produce some pressure on Oratory’s defence from the early stages.  On 9 minutes Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut turned to a corner with some difficulty a cross shot by David Bajada and on 18 minutes Xaghra had a goal by Matthias Michael Uzor that was disallowed for an offside.  The Youths replied two minutes later through a header by Joseph Attard from a free kick by Francesco Cini that ended just wide and on 25 minutes Xaghra’s Johnny Camilleri entered Oratory’s area but the striker saw his attempt aimed towards goal that was saved by goalie Richard Sammut.  On 33 minutes a free kick by Oratory’s Francesco Cini ended just over Xaghra’s crossbar and Xaghra replied in the following action through an effort by Matthias Michael Uzor following a personal action that missed the target. On 37 minutes Xaghra’s Arthur Farrugia produced a personal action but his final shot ended just wide and on 44 minutes Xaghtra opened the scored through a fine strike by Joseph Vella that ended out of the reach of Oratory’s keeper.

After the resumption Oratory were more adventurous in an attempt to level the score.  On 53 minutes a free kick by Emanuel Buttigieg ended just high and four minutes later a shot from an angled position by Claudio Carvalho Da Silva also missed the target.  Xaghra were dangerous on 65 minutes through a shot from outside the area by Gabriel Farrugia that ended over the crossbar and in the following action Oratory levelled the score when Luis Claudio Carvalho Da Silva won the ball from Xaghra’s defence and fired in goal with a shot that ended behind goalie Owen Attard.  The Youths gained confidence and increased their efforts in an attempt to take the lead and on 75 minutes they were also close to scoring but a shot by Paul Rapa ended just over Xaghra’s goal.  On 76 minutes Xaghra regained the lead through a goal scored by Matthias Michael Uzor who fired in goal as soon as he came face to face with Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut.  Oratory could have reduced the score on 88 minutes but Xaghra’s goalie Owen Attard saved a shot from an angled position by substitute Jurgen Mario Portelli.  One minute later Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut made the best save of the match when he turned to a corner a strike by Joseph George Vella.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic