Wanderers gain top position with a close win

17 December 2022

GFA BOV GFL 2nd Division (MD 5) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers: 1

Gharb Rangers FC : 0

61’(1-0) Aud-Gustine James Obaje

82’ (red card) Justin Agius (GR)

SK Victoria W:

O. Xuereb, N. Camilleri, A. Refalo, A.J. Obaje, E. Zammit, S. Harland, S.F. Bajada, O. Fenech, J. Saliba (D. Kuru), N. Vella, J.G. Vella.

Gharb R:

J.P. Cassar, S. Farrugia, M. Ciangura, C. Cutajar (C. Buttigieg 77), C. Cardona, G. Debrincat, J. Buttigieg, O. Calleja, N. Attard, J.P. Soares De Souza.

SK Victoria Wanderers took full advantage of the results of the other matches from Match Day 5 of the campaign and obtained three points from a 1-0 win over Gharb Rangers.  With this result, the Wanderers took sole leadership on the table while Gharb ended the first round at the bottom of the table and without a win.

This was Victoria’s third consecutive win where they confirmed their ambitions to be serious challengers for promotion.  The Wanderers were the better side for long stretches and clinched the win with a goal scored just after the hour mark.

Timeline:

The Wanderers held the initiative of play for most of the first period but Gharb was well deployed at their defence and managed to keep a clean sheet at the end of the first half.

15’ (crossbar) The Citizens could have scored an early goal but an attempt by Aud-Gustine James Obaje was stopped by the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

44’ (goal disallowed) Victoria produced a good action when Aud-Gustne James Obaje delivered a good cross and Emerson Zammit concluded in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement. 

 HT (0-0)

Second Half

For the second period, Victoria continued to dictate matters and managed to score the goal that in the end decided the issue.  Gharb however tried to produce a reaction, particularly near the end of the encounter but they only threatened Victoria’s rear guard through some set pieces that failed to hit the target.

16’ (1-0) The Wanderers opened the score with a goal that arrived through a header by Aud-Gustine James Obaje following a corner action.

37’ (red card) Gharb ended the match with ten players when defender Justin Agius was sent off for a second bookable offence.

FT (SKVW 1 – GR 0)

Referee: Vldimir Rozoski