Victoria Hotspurs move six points clear at the top

by | Mar 29, 2024 | 23/24, GFL 2nd Div, Match Report, News

14 March 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 12) Kercem Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4

Gharb Rangers FC : 1

15’ (1-0) o.g. Samuel Sillato

36’ (1-1) Carlos Cutajar

69’ (2-1) o.g. Damian Depasquale

70’ (3-1) Lorenzo Atzori

79’ (4-1) Shaun Attard

Victoria H:

K. Barbara, L. Atzori (L. Farrugia 82), S. Attard, D. Farrugia (J. Buttigieg 89), C. Grima, J. Grima (G. Borg 89), D. Mercieca, C. Caruana (O. Cremona 89), J. Tabone, J.G. Vella (E. Xiberras 77), E.A. Da Silva.

Gharb R:

A. Micallef, C. Cutajar, T. Axiak, A. Ofulue Chukwuwinke, F. Xuereb (M. Tabone 85), S. Sillato, D. Galea, O. Atzori, D. Depasquale (J. Xerri 77), S. Gauci (S. Azzopardi 85), R. Meilak (D. Vella 77).

Victoria Hotspurs took full advantage of the defeat conceded by challengers for promotion Sannat Lions with a 4-1 win over Gharb Rangers.  With the points obtained the Hotspurs extended their lead over the same Sannat to six points and therefore they are now four points away from becoming mathematically sure of winning the second division league and promotion to return to the top flight after just one season.

For this match, the Hotspurs had several regular players who were missing as a precaution for the final of the Challenge Cup scheduled within a few days.  The win for the Hotspurs was hard-earned as Gharb were in contention for more than an hour.  However, Victoria scored two goals in the space of one minute midway through the second half so they put the score beyond the reach of their opponents and administered play with authority during the final stages.

Timeline:

Victoria Hotspurs tried to take command of play from the first minutes of the encounter but they struggled to produce serious danger on Gharb’s goal The Citizens managed to take the lead through an own goal but they conceded the reaction from their less quoted opponents and the first half ended in a draw of two goals.

15’ (1-0) o.g. The Hotspurs opened the score when Gharb’s skipper and defender Samuel Sillato committed an own goal in an attempt to clear the danger.

36’ (1-1) Gharb levelled the score through Carlos Cutajar who placed the ball behind goalie Kyle Barbara following a good action.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

After the resumption the Hotspurs tried to regain command of play and their efforts were rewarded when they surprised their opponents with three goals scored in the space of ten minutes so that Gharb seemed frustrated and did not manage to recover the score.

69’ (2-1) o.g. The Hotspurs regained the lead through another own goal, this time committed by Gharb’s Damian Depasquale.

70’ (3-1) Victoria practically put their minds at rest from the win when they scored their third goal which arrived through an effort by Lorenzo Atzori.

79’ (4-1) The Hotspurs sealed the win by scoring the fourth goal which arrived with a fine strike by Shaun Attard.

FT (VH 4 – GR 1)

Referee: Joseph Scerri

Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Anthony Paul Vella

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