Gharb obtain first points from a close win

6 December 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II – Match Day 3 Kercem Ajax Stadium

Gharb Rangers FC : 1

Zebbug Rovers FC : 0

26’ (1-0) Charles Hili

Gharb R:

J.P. Cassar, C. Hili, G. Sillato, O. Saliba, A. Farrugia (N. Mercieca), L. Attard, C. Cutajar (L. Dimech), M. Grima, M. Stojanovic, M. Grech, M. Farrugia.

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Zebbug R:

B. Saliba, S. Farrugia, I. Buttgieg, M. Camilleri, C. Gauci, A. Touarha (L. Farrugia), K. Bonnici (P. Spiteri), M. Thorne, E. Scerri, R. Saliba (J. Azzopardi), O. Mercieca.

Gharb Rangers obtained a close win over Zebbug Rovers and earned the first points in the campaign. This was the second match of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division for the two sides. Gharb were coming from a defeat while Zebbug won the full points at stake from their opening match and therefore the two teams were motivated to aim for the win. Gharb saw more of the ball for most of the match but Zebbug, who had their prolific striker Bartomeu Perello Palou missing, produced a good reaction during the last part of the encounter and could have saved the result. The outcome of this encounter confirmed that the competition for the top positions could be open for four of the five teams of the category and that both Gharb and Zebbug may be a threat to the teams who are aiming to win the promotion.

Timeline

Gharb took command of play form the first minutes of play and practically dominated over their opponents throughout the first half.

13’ Gharb’s Gabriel Sillato hd a good attempt that ended wide.

19’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba made a difficult intervention and managed to stop an attempt from outside the area by Milos Stojanovic and the defence recovered in time and cleared the ball from the goalmouth before Gharb’s striker Luke Attard could conclude into an open goal.

23’ Gharb were again dangerous when Marvic Grima entered Zebbug’s area with a personal action but his low shot was well blocked by goalie Baskal Saliba.

26’ (1-0) Gharb opened the score when Zebbug’s defence cleared badly the ball inside the area and Charles Hili took the opportunity and fired in the net from an ideal position.

30’ The same player could have doubled the score for Gharb but his attempt was saved by Zebbug’s goalkeeper Baskal Saliba.

Gharb increased their pressure over Zebbug’s drfence during the final minutes of the first half in an attempt to increase their lead.

43’ Carlos Cutajar entered Zebbug’s territory form the left flank but his shot ended wide.

45’ Gharb’s Luke Attard managed to pass through Zebbug’s defence with a personal action but his final shot ended just over the crossbar.

45+1’ Gharb were unlucky when a strike from outside the area surprised Zebbug’s keeper as the ball bounced in front of the goalmouth but was stopped by the crossbar. Luke Attard took the rebound and placed in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.

HT (1-0)

Gharb continued to enjoy territorial supremacy during the opening stages of the second period.

8’ Luke Attard entered Zebbug’s area but his low shot was well saved by goalie Baskal Saliba.

9’ Gharb’s Charles Hili had a shot from outside the area that missed the target.

17’ The Rangers could have doubled the score when substitute Lauran Dimech passed to Arthur Farrugia but the latter saw his attempt that was neutralised by the goalkeeper.

As time passed by during the second period Zebbug came out of their defence and during the last stages of the encounter they increased their efforts in an attempt to recover the deficit.

45+2’ Zebbug had their best opportunity to level the score when Gharb’s defence hesitated to clear the ball from the area and Manuel Camilleri took the opportunity, turned around his direct opponent but hit badly and the goalkeeper managed to save the danger without difficulty.

FT (GR 1 – ZR 0)

Referee: Patrick Falzon