Oratory Youths held to a draw

25 January 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II – MD 12 Kercem Ajax Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 1
Oratory Youths FC : 1

 

33’ (1-0) Matias Camilleri Psaila
61’ (1-1) Bartomeu Perello Palou

 

St Lawrence S:

Brignoli, J. Vella, G. Portelli, A. Xiberras, C. Grima, M. Camilleri Psaila (C. Mifsud), J. Theuma, M. Michael Uzor, J. Grima, C. Farrugia, K. Formosa (C. Tabone).

Oratory Y:

Camilleri, M. Ciangura (P. Said), J. Azzopardi, E. Buttigieg, P. Rapa, K. Farrugia (E. Xuereb), B. Perello Palou, D. Azzopardi (Ju. Attard), E. Gauci, S. Azzopardi, C. Borg.

SUMMARY

The main challengers for promotion Oratory Youths suffered a setback in their match from the third round against St Lawrence Spurs as they were held to a draw of two goals and therefore lost a golden opportunity to put more pressure on the current leaders.  The result of this match actually did not satisfy either team as Oratory interrupted a series of convincing performances, while St Lawrence practically lost an opportunity to reduce their gap from the top positions on the table and also a possibility to re-open their chances to join the race for promotion.  In this match the win could have gone either way as the two sides had opportunities to capitalise from good open scoring opportunities. At the end, the point obtained by the two sides was just and rewards the efforts of all the players on the field of play.

Oratory, who defeated St Lawrence in the two matches of the first and second round, took the field with the ambition to take the full points at stake.  However, they seemed overconfident and for some time they suffered St Lawrence’s play.

TIMELINE

St Lawrence were the better side during the opening stages but Oratory recovered as time passed by.

17’ Oratory created the first serious scoring opportunity when St Lawrence cleared badly from their area and the ball arrived to Oratory’s Justin Azzopardi who saw his fine strike well saved by goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli.

20’ Oratory once again created danger on St Lawrence’s goal but a shot by Chris Borg following a personal action missed the target.

22’ St Lawrence’s keeper was called to make a difficult intervention to turn to a corner another effort by Oratory’s Justin Azzopardi.

28’ In another occasion a shot by Oratory’s Chris Borg ended wide.

33’ (1-0) St Lawrence opened the score against the run of play through a first timer by Matias Camilleri Psaila following a free kick by Charlon Farrugia with the ball hitting the post before ending ion goal.

41’ Oratory replied through a free kick by Bartomeu Perello Palou that was neutralised by St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli.

HT (1-0)

 

Play continued to be well contested after the break as Oratory maintained their momentum in an attempt to recover the deficit.

5’  St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli left his position in time to clear the ball from the area following a free kick by Marco Ciangura and denied Justin Azzoaprdi from hitting towards goal from close distance.

6’ St Lawrence’s Matias Camilleri Psaila entered Oratory’s area with a personal action but his inviting cross aimed to an unmarked Matthias Michael Uzor was cleared in time to a corner by central defender Emanuel Buttigieg.

10’ St Lawrence could have doubled the score when Matthias Michael Uzor entered Oratory’s area with a personal action but Oratory’s keeper Nathan Camilleri left his position in time and managed to block the danger.

16’ (1-1) Oratory levelled the score when Marco Ciangura delivered a cross from the left flank inside St Lawrence’s area and Bartomeu Perello Palou arrived on the ball before St Lawrence’s keeper so that the Spanish striker headed into an open goal among some protests from St Lawrence’s player alleging handling by the striker.

Oratory retained command of play and increased their pressure on St Lawrence’s rear guard.

24’ Oratory went again close to scoring but an effort by Eric Gauci following a cross by substitute Jurgen Attard was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

25’ Oratory’s Bartomeu Perello Palou entered St Lawrence’s area but central defender James Grima recovered in time to clear the ball to a corner before the striker could conclude towards goal from close distance.

26’ Chris Borg entered St Lawrence’s area and released substitute Elijah Xuereb but the latter had his close ranged shot that was well saved to a corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

30’ A free kick by Oratory’s Justin Azzopardi ended wide.

31’ St Lawrence replied with two consecutive close ranged attempts by Matthias Michael Uzor from a free kick by Charlon Farrugia that were both blocked by Oratory’s goalie Nathan Camilleri.

32’ The Spurs once again threatened Oratory’s rear guard through a shot from close distance by Karl Formosa that ended high.

36’ St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli made another important save when he turned to a corner a strike by Bartomeu Perello Palou.

41’ The same goalkeeper continued to distinguish himself and blocked with some difficulty an attempt from a good position by Oratory’s substitute Paul Said.

42’ St Lawrence had their last opportunity to take the lead but Matthias Michael Uzor incredibly headed badly from close distance following an inviting cross by substitute Charlon Tabone.

45+5’ Oratory’s last scoring opportunity arrived seconds from the final whistle through a header by Emanuel Buttigieg following a corner kick by Elijah Xuereb that ended wide.

FT (1–1)

 

Referee: Sandro Spiteri