Munxar obtain a deserved win

16 October 2021

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II – Match Day 1

Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC : 2

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0

49’ (1-0) Ayesller Carvalho

63’ (2-0) Robert Grima

Munxar F:

D.C. Spiteri, J.P. Grima, C. Gafa, P. Rapa (P. Parnis), M. Azzopardi (R. Grima), L. Meilak, M. Debrincat, A. Carvalho, D.P. Borg (A. Sacco), M. Farrugia, K. Mizzi (J. Vella).

St. Lawrence S:

C. Mercieca, G. Portelli, A. Attard (F. Grima), C. Grima, A. Haska, L. Cilia (M. Terribile), V.J. Saliba, L. Dimkech (C. Mercieca), C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, J.M. Portelli.

This was the first match of the campaign for the two sides and both Munxar and St Lawrence tried to earn the first points.  The two teams had a prudent approach but as time passed by, Munxar took the upper hand and managed to produce some pressure on St Lawrence’s defence.  The Falcons took the lead during the opening stages of the second period and practically they put their minds at rest from the win with a second goal scored midway through the second half.

Based on the performance by the two sides, this first appearance for Munxar and St Lawrence indicate that the two sides maintained the same level of competitiveness as they had during the last season and therefore the two sides need to improve in an attempt to keep close to the top position on the table of the category.

Timeline:

Play for most of the first period was balanced and took place in the midfield with very few scoring opportunities at the two ends of the pitch.

31’ St Lawrence Spurs created the first serious scoring opportunity when Luke Cilia received the ball inside Munxar’s area but concluded badly from close distance and goalie Damian Spiteri blocked the danger.  From the rebound the ball arrived to an unmarked Jurgen Mario Portelli who had his shot that was once again saved by the goalkeeper.

42’ Munxar replied with an attempt directly from a free kick by Ayesller Carvalho that was saved to a corner by goalie Courtney Mercieca.

45’+1’ Munxar were again dangerous through a shot by Jean Paul Mizzi that ended just high.

HT (0-0)

Munxar took command of play from the early stages of the second period so that they scored two goals and justified their superiority over the opponents.

4’ (1-0) Munxar opened the score through Ayesller Carvalho who entered St Lawrence’s area following a counter break and placed easily in goal when he arrived face to face with the goalkeeper.

13’ Munxar could have added another goal when Derek Paul Borg released Ayesller Carvalho but the latter saw his low drive from a good position that ended just wide.

15’ The Spurs replied with a strike by Jurgen Mario Portelli that was stopped by the crossbar and from the rebound the attempt by the same Portelli was well saved by goalie Damian Spiteri.

18’ (2-0) Munxar doubled the score when a cross shot from the right hand side by substitute Robert Grima, who was on the field of play for just over an hour, surprised the goalkeeper as the latter only managed to take the ball when it had crossed the line.

36’ The Falcons could have scored another goal but a lob by Ayesller Carvalho over the goalkeeper, who was out of his position, was cleared from the goal mouth by central defender Daniel Micallef.

FT (MF 2 – SLS 0)

Referee: Joseph Scerri