Victoria Hotspurs consolidate sole leadership with a fine win

9 March 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 11) Kercem Stadium

Zebbug Rovers FC : 0

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3 

8’ (0-1) Shaun Attard

22’ (0-2) Lorenzo Atzori

66’ (0-3) Oliver Cremona

Zebbug R:

G. Saliba, P. Spiteri, O. Saliba (N.J. Cini 60), M. Formosa, D. Mesa Pineros, H. Paulin,  P.P. Camilleri (K. Mifsud 79), C. Gafa (O. Mercieca 87), L. Portelli (B. Camilleri 87), Ju. Attard (S. Farrugia 79), J. Azzopardi.

Victoria H:

R. Sammut, L. Grima (J. Azzopardi 77), O. Cremona (G. Borg 87), L. Atzori (L. Farrugia 72), S. Attard (A. Camilleri 87), J. Buttigieg, D. Farrugia (C. Caruana 72), C. Grima, J. Grima, D. Mercieca, W. Valentim De Sousa.

Victoria Hotspurs registered a 3-0 win over Zebbug Rovers in the last match from Match-Day 11 of the campaign so that they retained the top position on the table with a three-point lead over their closest challengers for promotion.

The Hotspurs dominated this encounter against the team occupying the bottom place on the table and paved the way to this win with two goals scored during the first part of the encounter.  Zebbug’s reaction was sterile and they never seemed in a position to recover the score so the Citizens sealed the win by scoring a third goal during the second period.

Timeline:

Victoria Hotspurs took command of play from the first minutes of play and took the lead at an early stage so that they converted their superiority by adding another goal midway through the first half.

8’ (0-1) The Citizens open the score through a good shot by Shaun Attard following a personal action.

12’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous with a good shot by Josef Buttigieg that was partially saved by goalie Gabriel Saliba and the defence cleared the danger from the area.

22’ (0-2) The Hotspurs doubled their lead when Wellington Valentim De Souza delivered a cross from the left flank and Lorenzo Atzori converted towards the corner of the net from close distance.

43’ Zebbug had their best opportunity to reduce the score through a strike by Harry Paulin but Victoria’s goalie Richard Sammut was well placed and saved the danger.

45+4’ Victoria’s Shaun Attard had a shot from a free kick that ended away from goal.

HT (0-2)

Second Half

The Hotspurs continued to hold control of play throughout the second period and could have achieved the win with a larger score as the Rovers found it very difficult to come out of their defence to re-open the issue,

5’ Victoria Hotspurs could have added another goal but an attempt from a free kick by Shaun Attard was saved to a corner by Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba.

15’ Zebbug could have capitalised better when Victoria’s goalie Richard Sammut failed to clear the ball following a free kick but substitute Nathan John Cini had his close-ranged attempt that was blocked by the defence.

21’ (0-3) The Hotspurs increased their lead when a corner kick by James Grima arrived to Oliver Cremona who headed in goal despite the presence of other defenders in the small area.

26’ Zebbug went close to reduce the score but an attempt from a free kick by Daniel Mesa Pineros ended wide.

FT (ZR 0 – VH 3)

Referee: Kankaras Igor

Assistant Referees: Mark Azzopardi, Raymond Tabone