SK Victoria Wanderers ease past Gharb with first half goals

3 September 2022

GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup (MD 1) Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers : 4

Gharb Rangers FC : 0

27’ (1-0) Sam Harland

41’ (2-0) Aud-Gustine James Obaje

45+3’ (3-0) Sam Harland

49’ (4-0) Sam Harland

SK Victoria W:

Om. Xuereb, N. Camilleri, A. Refalo (I. Xuereb), A.J. Obaje, E. Zammit, S. Harland (J.W. Meilak), S.F. Bajada, K. Grima (D. Kuru), O. Fenech, D.U. Monday (J. Saliba), J.G. Vella (L. Fenech).

Gharb R:

Ow. Xuereb, M. Ciangura, J. Agius, C. Cutajar, C. Cardona (D. Vella), G. Debrincat, M. Tabone (J. Xerri), R. Portelli, A. Cini, O. Calleja, N. Attard.

N the first match of the new competition reserved for the teams of the lower category in Gozitan football, SK Victoria Wanderers inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Gharb Rangers and put themselves in an ideal position to be among the challengers for the honour.  This competition will take place before the start of the BOV Gozo Football League if the second division, where the six teams will play against each other and the two teams who gain more points, from their respective five matches, will contest the final.

SK Victoria Wanderers, who were relegated to the second division at the end of the last season seemed more experienced and managed to keep control of the match throughout the encounter.  The wanderers paved the way to the win with three goals that arrived before the end of the first half.  The protagonist in Victoria’s win was their striker Sam Harland who registered a personal hat-trick.

Timeline:

SK Victoria Wanderers took command of play and produced some pressure on Gharb’s defence from the early stages.  The latter tried hard to resist to Victoria’s offensive play but compromised the possibility to remain in contention by conceding goals during the final stages of the first half.

13’ The Wanderers created their first scoring opportunity through an effort by Aud-Gustine James Obaje who passed inside Gharb’s area but his low shot aimed towards the far post ended wide.

19’ Gharb’s keeper Owen Xuereb was well paced and saved with some difficult a shot by Emerson Zammit from a good position.

21’ Victoria’s Joseph George Vella won the ball following a clearance by the defence inside Gharb’s area but his lob towards an open goal missed the target.

27’ (1-0) SK Victoria Wanderers opened the score when Gharb’s goalie Owen Xuereb partially saved a low cross from the left by Joseph George Vella and from the rebound Sam Harland deposited the ball in goal from close distance.

28’ The same Harland created danger inside Gharb’s area when he released Aud-Gustine James Obaje but the latter concluded incredibly high from an ideal position.

38’ The Wanderers missed another very good scoring opportunity but Joseph George Vella’s shot from close distance, after receiving from Aud-Gustine James Obaje, ended wide.

41’ (2-0) The Citizens doubled the score through a personal effort by Aud-Gustine James Obaje who entered the area and concluded in goal with a low shot as he arrived face to face with the goalkeeper.

45+3’ (3-0) Victoria added another goal when Gharb’s defence cleared a corner kick by Owen Fenech and the ball arrived at the edge of the area to Sam Harland who fired a strike that ended in the upper corner of the net.

HT (3-0)

Second Half

The Wanderers continued to dictate matters after the break although they reduced their intensity particularly after scoring another goal during the opening minutes of the second period.  Gharb tried to take advantage but they neve managed to go close to create danger within Victoria’s territory.

4’ (4-0) Victoria’s Sam Harland registered his personal hat-trick and made it 4-0 for his side when he took advantage of some hesitation by Gharb’s rearguard, too the ball and placed in goal with a low drive.

27’ Victoria were again dangerous but a header by Neil Camilleri following a corner kick by Owen Fenech ended on the side of the net.

FT (SKVW 4 – GR 0)

Referee: Jason Portelli