St Lawrence move to the third spot

13 February 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 9) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Xaghra United FC : 1

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 3

4’ (0-1) Alen Haska

24’ (1-1) Shemar Tristan Blair

73’ (1-2) Andrew Attard

90+17’ (1-3) Jurgen Mario Portelli

Xaghra U:

L. Camilleri, J. Bajada, A. Farrugia, L. Sultana, C. Camilleri (E. Scerri), S.T. Blair, M. Cordina (J. Camilleri), S. Sultana, S. Bonello, F. Cauchi, E. Galea.

St Lawrence S:

J. Grima, G. Portelli, A. Attard (D. Micallef), C. Grima, A. Haska, L. Cilia (J.M. Portelli), C. Cauchi, J. Xuereb, W. Hili, C. Mercieca (L. Dimech), J. Buhagiar.

St Lawrence Spurs obtained the double over Xaghra United in the first match from Match-Day 9 of the campaign and with the points obtained they moved to a more comfortable third spot on the table.  St Lawrence’s win was hard-earned as the two sides seemed determined to extend a good moment of form which saw the two teams moving away from the bottom of the table.

St Lawrence’s win matured with a goal scored in each half.  They took an early lead but conceded Xaghra’s reaction so that the two sides took the break in a draw of two goal.  The Spurs were undoubtedly the better side after the break and clinched the win when they capitalised from a mistake by Xaghra’s defence.  Xaghra tried to save the result during the final stages but the Spurs managed to defend well to register their third win in the campaign.

Timeline

Play was rather balanced during the first period where the two defensive departments prevailed over the respective strikers for most of the time.

4’ (0-1) t Lawrence spurs opened the score through a direct free kick by Alen Haska that ended in goal despite the attempt of the goalkeeper to punch away from the goalmouth.

18’ Xaghra replied through a low shot from outside the area by Matthias Cordina that ended just wide.

24’ (1-1)  Xaghra levelled the score through a low shot by Shemar Tristan Blair, after receiving from Matthias Cordina, that surprised the goalkeeper.

28’ A good strike from outside the area by Luke Sultana ended just high.

33’ St Lawrence could have regained the lead when St Lawrence’s defence failed to clear a free kick by Christian Grima but a header by Andrew Attard, with an open goal at his mercy, ended wide.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

St Lawrence came out in a better shape and seemed more adventurous than their opponents during the opening stages of the second period but as time passed by Xaghra came out of the defence and the match became more contested.

3’ Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri made a good save to turn to a corner a shot by Alen Haska from an angled position.

7’ St Lawrence’s substitute Jurgen Mario Portelli had a header from a free kick by Christian Grima that ended high.

10’ Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri was again called to make a good save following a strike by Alen Haska after receiving from Jurgen Mario Portelli.

17’ Xaghra replied through a header by Christian Camilleri following a free kick by Matthias Cordina.

22’ Xaghra were again dangerous through a shot on the ruin by Shemar Tristan Blair after receiving from Luke Attard that ended just over the crossbar.

28’ (1-2) The Spurs regained the lead when Xaghra’s defence failed to clear the ball following a free kick from long distance by Christian Grima and Andrew Attard took full advantage of the mishap and headed easily in goal.

41’ Xaghra went close to level the score but a close ranged header by Shemar Tristan Blair was saved by goalie Justin Grima and the defence cleared the danger to a corner.

87’ The match was suspended for over ten minutes following an injury in the midfield of a St Lawrence player so that the match for prolonged to recover the time taken for first aid.

90+17’ (1-3) St Lawrence sealed the win when Jurgen Mario Portelli was released in a counter break by Alen Haska and the young striker placed in goal, with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

FT (XU 1 – SLS 3)

Referee: Patrick Falzon