Hotspurs regain co-leadership with a large win

3 February 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 8) Kercem Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 8

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 1

10’ (1-0) Lorenzo Atzori

23’ (2-0) Wellington Valentim De Sousa

27’ (2-1) Daniel Micallef

30’ (3-1) Shaun Attard

32’ (4-1) Shaun Attard

48’ (5-1) Wellington Valentim De Sousa

51’ (6-1) Joseph George Vella

59’ (7-1) Shaun Attard

64’ (8-1) Wellington Valentim De Sousa

Victoria H:

R. Sammut (K. Barbara 53), L. Grima, J. Azzopardi (G. Borg 66), L. Atzori, S. Attard, D. Farrugia, D. Mercieca, C. Caruana, E. Xiberras (A. Camilleri 66), J.G. Vella (L. Farrugia 53), W. Valentim De Sousa.

St. Lawrence S:

J. Xiberras, N. Haber, G. Portelli, J.M. Portelli (J.K. Farrugia 66), A. Carvalho, V.J. Saliba, C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, M. Dingli (D.P. Rapa 66), J. Grech (S. Farrugia 26) (M. Terribile 46), J. Saliba.

In the last match from Match-Day 8 of the second division campaign, Victoria Hotspurs scored four goals in each half of the encounter against St Lawrence Spurs to obtain three easy points and reach Sannat Lions at the top of the table.

The match was practically decided within the first part of the encounter where the Hotspurs managed to convert their superiority into goals.  St Lawrence found it extremely difficult to neutralise Victoria’s pressure and could not find a way to avoid the heavy defeat.  Victoria’s Wellington Valentim De Sousa and Shaun Attard were the main protagonists in this match as the two strikers scored a hat-trick each.

Timeline:

The Hotspurs came out determined to take control of [lay from the early stages and managed to achieve their objective by scoring four goals within the first part so that their opponents were demoralised and were forced to keep trailing the Hotspurs throughout the match.

2’ The Hotspurs had their first attempt towards St Lawrence’s goal through a shot from Wellington Valentim De Sousa that ended wide.

10’ (1-0) The Citizens opened the score when Daniel Farrugia headed towards the goalmouth with a free kick by Joseph George Vella and Lorenzo Atzori headed in the net from close distance.

15’ St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras made a good save to block an effort by Wellington Valentim De Sousa.

16’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and saved a shot by Joseph George Vella.

23’ (2-0) Victoria doubled their lead with a low shot by Wellington Valentim De Sousa.

27’ (2-1) St Lawrence reduced the score when Victoria’s defence badly cleared the ball from the area from a corner action and Daniel Micallef took the ball and surprised the goalkeeper with a shot from the resultant melee.

29’ Victoria’s Joseph George Vella had a good shot that was saved to a corner by goalie Joel Xiberras.

30’ (3-1) The Hotspurs increased their lead when Joseph George Vella’s corner kick arrived to Shaun Attard concluded in goal from close distance.

32’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through Lorenzo Atzori who was alone in the area but St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras had good timing and managed to save the danger.

32’ (4-1) Victoria scored another goal through a shot from close distance by Shaun Attard.

45’ Victoria’s goalie Richard Sammut made a difficult save to block an effort by Jurgen Mario Portelli.

45+2’ St Lawrence were again dangerous but a shot by Ayesller Carvalho was well saved by goalie Richard Sammut

HT (4-1)

Second Half

The Hotspurs continued to dominate play after the resumption and increased their lead by scoring on four other occasions.

3’ (5-1) The fifth goal from Victoria arrived through Wellington Valentim De Sousa who concluded in the net with a low shot following a personal action.

6’ (6-1) The Hotspurs added another goal from a free kick by Joseph George Vella that ended out of the reach of St Lawrence’s goalie.

12’ The Citizens were again dangerous but a free kick by Justin Azzopardi was well saved by goalie Joel Xiberras.

14’ (7-1) The Hotspurs scored their seventh goal through a shot from long distance by Shaun Attard that ended out of the reach of St Lawrence’s goalie.

19’ (8-1) Victoria’s last goal arrived through an initiative by Lorenzo Atzori who had his shot partially saved by goalie Joel Xiberras and from the rebound Wellington Valentim De Sousa netted with a low drive.

FT (VH 8 – SLS 1)

Referee: Wayne Sammut

Assistant Referees: Kankaras Igor, Denis Kadri