Victoria Hotspurs champions of the second division

23 March 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 13) Kercem Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4

45’ (0-1) Wellington Valentim De Souza

49’ (0-2) Joseph George Vella

53’ (0-3) Wellington Valentim De Souza

85’ (0-4) Wellington Valentim De Souza

St Lawrence S:

J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia, N. Haber, G. Portelli, J.M. Portelli, A. Carvalho, S. Farrugia (J. Grech 65), C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, M. Dingli, J. Saliba (M. Terribile 46).

Victoria H:

R. Sammut (K. Barbara 67), L. Grima, L. Farrugia, S. Attard, J. Buttigieg, D. Farrugia (J. Azzopardi 65), J. Grima (E. Xiberras 65), D. Mercieca (G. Borg 67), C. Caruana (O. Cremona 65), J.G. Vella, W. Valentim De Sousa.

Victoria Hotspurs obtained three points from a 4-0 win over St Lawrence Spurs and took advantage of the draws registered in the other two matches of Match-Day 13 so that the Hotspurs increased their gap over their challengers and became mathematically champions of the category.

In this match, St Lawrence tried to make it very difficult for their opponents to obtain the win and managed to keep a clean sheet until the last moments of the first half.  The Hotspurs however opened the score seconds before halftime and converted their superiority with three more goals scored during the second period.  Victoria’s striker Wellington Valentim De Souza registered a personal hat-trick in this match and consolidated his leadership as the top scorer of the category.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

The Hotspurs saw more of the ball throughout the first period but St Lawrence was well deployed at their defence and made it very difficult for their more quoted opponents to create danger.

5’ (crossbar) St Lawrence almost surprised the Hotspurs but a strike by Ayesller Carvalho hit the crossbar.

17’ Victoria’s first serious attempt towards St Lawrence’s goal arrived from a freekick by Joseph George Vella but the ball ended over the crossbar.

18’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous but a low shot by Lucas Farrugia aimed towards the far post ended wide.

39’ St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras was called to make a difficult save to block a good shot by Wellington Valentim De Souza from an angled position.

43’ The same Wellington Valentim De Souza went again close to open the score when he took a clearance by the defence but his shot from a good position ended over the crossbar.

45’ (0-1) The Hotspurs managed to take the lead when St Lawrence’s defence failed to clear the ball from their area and Wellington Valentim De Souza took full advantage of the opportunity and converted from close distance.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

Victoria came out with more confidence after the break and continued to dominate the encounter until the final whistle.  The Citizens practically put their minds at rest from the three points by scoring two goals at an early stage of the second period and sealed the win with a late goal.

49’ (0-2) The Hotspur doubled their lead with a fine shot directly from a free kick by Joseph George Vella that ended out of the reach of St Lawrence’s goalie.

53’ (0-3) Victoria scored their third goal through Wellington Valentim De Souza.

85’ (0-4) Victoria’s Wellington Valentim De Souza registered his hat-trick and made sure of the win by netting the fourth goal of the encounter.

FT (SLS 0 – VH 4)

Referee: Jo-Anna Vassallo

Assistant Referees: Kankaras Igor, Wayne Spiteri

Photo: Anthony Cassar