Oratory consolidate their second spot

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II – MD 7 Kercem Ajax Stadium

Oratory Youths FC: 2
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0

70’ (1-0) Bartomeu Perello Palou
85’ (2-0) Keith Farrugia

Oratory Y:

Sammut, J. Azzopardi, E. Buttigieg, P. Rapa (M. Ciangura), K. Farrugia, B. Perello Palou, D. Azzopardi, S. Azzopardi, C. Borg (F. Cini), S. Curmi (P. Said), Ju. Attard.

St Lawrence S:

Brignoli, G. Portelli, A. Xiberras (C. Tabone), C. Grima, J. Theuma, C. Cauchi, M. Michael Uzor, C. Azzopardi (K. Formosa), D. Micallef, C. Farrugia, C. Mifsud.

SUMMARY

Oratory Youths scored two late goals in their match against St Lawrence Spurs and with the points obtained they retained their second place on the table and therefore the possibility to challenge for promotion.  This match was probably the last opportunity for St Lawrence to join the top positions and as a result the match was well contested for most of the time. Oratory managed to open the score midway through the second half and held control of play for the remaining minutes.  The Youths also took full advantage when the Spurs pushed more players forward in an attempt to save the result so that Oratory continued to be more dangerous with counter breaks and made sure of the win by scoring the second goal. St Lawrence confirmed their limitations in attack and in this match they once again failed to capitalise from their best scoring opportunities so that their efforts to recover the deficit were to no avail.

TIMELINE

The two sides seemed determined to obtain a positive result from the early stages and play for long stretches was balanced.

10’  St Lawrence Spurs creates the first serious scoring opportunity of the encounter through a strike by Jason Theuma that was saved with difficulty to a corner by Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut.

19’  Oratory replied through a free kick by Justin Azzopardi was partially saved by St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli and central defender Daniel Micallef cleared the danger to a corner.  From the resultant corner kick by Keith Farrugia, St Lawrence’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth until defender Christopher Cauchi cleared off the fatal line to avoid a certain goal.

23’  Oratory’s Bartomeu Perello Palou had an attempt from a good position that ended high.

39’ The Youths lost a good scoring opportunity when Chris Borg passed inside St Lawrence’s area to an unmarked Bartomeu Perello Palou but the latter concluded incredibly wide from an ideal position.

40’  St Lawrence went again close to scoring when a header by Matthias Michael Uzor from a free-kick was blocked by goalie Richard Sammut and from the resultant action, a shot by Christopher Cauchi ended wide.

HT (0-0)

Play continued to be well contested after the break.

2’  Oratory were dangerous through a strike by Paul Rapa that ended wide.

3’  In another occasion created by Oratory Justin Azzopardi had a shot that ended just over the crossbar.

8’  St Lawrence operated a counter break but a lob by Charlon Farrugia with the goalkeeper beaten that was stopped by the post.

20’  In another good action by the Spurs Charlon Farrugia delivered a cross inside Oratory’s area but a header by George Portelli just missed the target.

25’ (1-0)  Oratory opened the score when substitute Marco Ciangura had a low cross from the right flank and Bartomeu Perello Palou followed the action and netted with a tap-in.

St Lawrence produced an immediate reaction.

32’  St Lawrence substitute Charlon Tabone had an attempt from a good position that was well saved by Richard Sammut.

40’ (2-0)  Oratory practically made sure of the win when the doubled the score from a counter break operated by Bartomeu Perello Palou who released Keith Farrugia within St Lawrence’s territory and the latter concluded in goal as goalie Angelo Brignoli left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

45+2’  Oratory could have added another goal when Bartomeu Perello Palou entered St Lawrence’s area with a personal action but the Spanish striker had his attempt blocked by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

FT (2-0)

Referee: Andrew James Sammut