St Lawrence avoid the bottom place with a close win

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 1

Gharb Rangers FC : 0

34’ (red card) Samuel Sillato (GR)

68’ (1-0) Mark Dingli

St Lawrence S:

J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia, N. Haber, G. Portelli, J.M. Portelli, A. Carvalho (S. Muscat 46), V.J. Saliba (T. Micallef 82), S. Farrugia, C. Azzopardi (A. Cini 89), D. Micallef, M. Dingli.

Gharb R:

A. Micallef, R. Portelli, C. Cutajar, T. Axiak (D. Vella 78), A. Ofulue Chukwuwinke (S. Azzopardi 45+1), F. Xuereb (M. Tabone 69), S. Sillato, D. Galea, O. Atzori (J. Xerri 78), S. Gauci, R. Meilak (D. Depasquale 69).

St Lawrence Spurs obtained three very important points from a 1-0 win over Gharb Rangers so that the Spurs moved away from the bottom place on the table on the last Match-Day at the expense of the same Gharb and Zebbug Rovers.

This was a direct clash between two sides who were aiming to end a disappointing season on a positive note.  Gharb needed at least a draw to make sure that they would leave St Lawrence behind them on the final standings, while St Lawrence needed a win to avoid the bottom place.  St Lawrence was more offensive in their play as they were determined to obtain the second win over Gharb in the campaign, while Gharb tried to be very prudent and had a defensive deployment in an attempt to achieve the point they needed.  However, Gharb’s ambitions were compromised at an early stage as they were reduced to ten players and they found it difficult to resist for almost an hour of play.  St Lawrence scored the goal that decided the issue midway through the second half and defended their lead until the end of the encounter.

Timeline:

St Lawrence was more adventurous during the first period but they missed some potential scoring opportunities and failed to take an early lead.  Gharb remained in contention and as time passed by they started to operate some offensive breaks but they rarely threatened St Lawrence’s goalie.  The Rangers were reduced to ten players ten minutes from halftime but the Spurs did not capitalise on the extra player on the field of play and the match remained at a deadlock until the break.

5’ St Lawrence went very close to open the score but a close-ranged attempt by Jurgen Mario Portelli following a cross by Victor John Saliba ended just over the crossbar.

12’ Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef was well placed and neutralised without difficulty an attempt from a free kick by Ayesller Carvalho.

16’ St Lawrence’s Jurgen Mario Portelli could have created more danger but his curling shot from an angled position ended wide.

24’ The Spurs were gain danger through another attempt from a free kick by Ayesller Carvalho but on this occasion, the ball ended over the crossbar.

34’ (red card) Gharb were reduced to ten players when Samuel Sillato was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity to Str Lawrence’s Mark Dingli.

35’ From the resultant free kick St Lawrence’s Ayesller Carvalho saw his strike that was blocked with some difficulty by Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef.

39’ (crossbar) Gharb almost surprised their opponents despite playing with a player less when Orlando Atzori delivered the ball in front of Gharb’s goal with a corner kick and Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke’s header was stopped by the crossbar with St Lawrence’s goalie beaten.

HT (0-0)

Second Half

After the resumption, the two sides came out without their respective foreign players due to an injury but St Lawrence continued to produce more offensive play while Gharb continued to struggle to operate counter breaks.  The match did not produce serious scoring opportunities but the Spurs broke the deadlock midway through the second period and managed to defend their lead until the final whistle.

23’ (1-0) St Lawrence took the lead when Gharb’s defence failed to clear the ball from their area following a free kick by Steve Farrugia and Mark Dingli took the opportunity and fired in goal from a good position.

28’ Gharb could have levelled the score when substitute Damian Depasquale released Carlos Cutajar inside St Lawrence’s area but the latter saw his attempt from an ideal position that was well saved by goalie Joel Xiberras.

38’ St Lawrence went very close to increasing their lead but a low drive by Mark Dingli was deflected to a corner by the defence.

FT (SLS 1 – GR 0)

Referee: Patrick Falzon

Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Anthony Paul Vella