Gharb obtain the first win

16 December 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 5) Kercem Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 1

Gharb Rangers FC: 2

78’ (1-0) Victor John Saliba
80’ (1-1) Tristan Axiak
84’ (1-2) Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke

St. Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, N. Haber, J.M. Portelli (D.P. Rapa 72), C. Grima, A. Carvalho, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba,
C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, M. Dingli, J. Saliba.

Gharb R:
A. Micallef, C. Cutajar, T. Axiak, A. Ofulue Chukwuwinke, F. Xuereb, S. Sillato, D. Galea, M.
Grech (R. Portelli 85), O. Atzori, S. Gauci, R. Meilak.

Gharb Rangers ended their commitments of the first round of the campaign on an excellent note
as they registered their first win by defeating St Lawrence Spurs with the odd goal from three.
This match was a direct clash against the bottom place on the table and with this result, Gharb
opened a four-point lead over the same St Lawrence as the latter remained without a point after
five matches.

For most of the time play was balanced as both Gharb and St Lawrence found it very difficult to
capitalise on their respective scoring opportunities. St Lawrence was often more
adventurous but came out of a difficult period so that the win could have gone either way. The
outcome of his match was determined with three goals scored during the final stages. The
Spurs opened the score but were surprised by Gharb’s reaction so the former ended up
leaving the pitch empty-handed.

Timeline:
St Lawrence came out more determined and took command of play from the early stages so
that Gharb were forced to protect their area with many players. St Lawrence however found it

very difficult to create attempts towards goal while Gharb struggled to produce offensive play
and in the end, the action on goal was quite rare.
29’ (crossbar) St Lawrence went very close to open the score but a header by Jurgen Mario
Portelli from a cross by Mark Dingli hit the crossbar and the ball ended wide.
40’ Gharb’s best scoring opportunity o the first half arrived through a shot directly from a free
kick by Samuel Sillato but the ball ended just wide.
HT (0-0)

Second Half
St Lawrence maintained their territorial supremacy after the break but the strikers continued to
be very erratic and did not manage to produce dangerous actions towards Gharb’s goal. On the
other hand, Gharb took more advantage of some gaps in St Lawrence’s defence and as time
passed by play became much more contested and the win could have gone either way.
12’ St Lawrence’s James Grima had a shot from a good position but the ball ended just wide.
14’ Gharb almost surprised St Lawrence when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke entered the area
from the right flank but Carlos Cutajar hit badly from close distance and the ball ended wide.
21’ Gharb were again dangerous through an initiative by Ryan Meilak who entered the area but
his low shot was well blocked by St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras.
33’ (1-0) St Lawrence took the lead through a header by Victor John Saliba following a free
kick by James Grima that ended out of the reach of Gharb’s goalie.
34’ The Spurs were again dangerous but a header by Ayesller Carvalho following a cross by
James Grima ended just wide.
35’ (1-1) Gharb levelled the score when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke delivered a cross for the
the right-hand side and Tristan Axiak surprised the goalkeeper with a close-range header.
39’ (1-2) Gharb turned the result in their favour when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke entered St
Lawrence’s area with personal action and netted with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his
position in an attempt to block the danger.
45+2’ St Lawrence could have levelled the score when a header by Christian Grima from a
corner action was saved by Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef with the aid of the crossbar and from
the rebound Mark Dingli concluded over the crossbar from a close distance.

FT (SLS 1 – GR 2)
Referee: Patrick Falzon
Assistant Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jules Ngangue