04 January 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 7) Kercem Stadium
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 4
Gharb Rangers FC : 2
12’ (0-1) Baldwin Osayi Igbinobaro
33’ (1-1) Ebube Ralph Okpokwu
44’ (1-2) Michael Xuereb
45’ (2-2) Christian Azzopardi
48’ (3-2) Daniel Atzori
74’ (4-2) Jurgen Attard
St Lawrence S:
P. Cremona, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba (J.K. Farrugia 77), S. Farrugia, J. Xuereb (D.P. Rapa 44), C. Azzopardi (O. Grech 77), D. Micallef (L. Meilaq 87), D. Atzori (D.J. Xerri 77), E.R. Okpokwu, J. Saliba, Ju. Attard.
Gharb R:
A. Micallef (E. Bajada 75), A. Sultana, D. Galea, M. Gauci, T. Axiak, S. Gauci, B.O. Igbinobaro, F. Xuereb, J. Xerri (C. Zammit 54), K. Attard, M. Xuereb.
St. Lawrence Spurs defended their second-place position in the league table with a hard-fought 4-2 win over bottom-placed Gharb Rangers. Despite conceding the lead twice in the first half, St. Lawrence rallied and controlled the match in the second half, securing the win with two additional goals.
Gharb started the match strongly, showing determination to secure their first win of the season. However, they conceded a second equalizer just before halftime, which seemed to demoralize them. Their defensive frailty was further exposed early in the second half, allowing St. Lawrence to take the lead and dominate the rest of the game.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
First Half:
St Lawrence saw more of the ball for most of the first half but Gharb’s defence was well deployed and Gharb’s keeper was not called to make any difficult intervention. Gharb took advantage of open spaces in St Lawrence‘s defence and were more dangerous through counter breaks so that the first half ended in a draw of four goals.
5’ Gharb’s Baldwin Osayi Igbinobaro won the ball from St Lawrence keeper but at the end his shot from an angled position ended on the side of the net.
12’ (0-1) Gharb took the lead when Baldwin Osayi Igbinobaro entered St Lawrence’s area from the right flank and defeated the goalkeeper with a low shot.
28’ St Lawrence’s goalie Paul Cremona denied Gharb from scoring a second goal when he blocked a close ranged shot by Baldwin Osayi Igbinobaro and from the rebound the attempt by Tristan Axiak was cleared from the goalmouth by the defence.
33’ (1-1) St Lawrence levelled the score when Gharb’s rearguard failed to clear the ball from the danger area following a cross by James Grima and Ebube Ralph Okpokwu concluded in goal from the resultant melee.
40’ Gharb were again dangerous but an effort by Michael Xuereb was well saved by St Lawrence’s goalie Paul Cremona.
44’ (1-2) Gharb regained the lead when Michael Xuereb took the ball outside St Lawrence’s area, passed through the defence and surprised the goalkeeper with a low shot.
45’ (2-2) St Lawrence had an immediate reaction and scored their second equaliser through a fine strike from an angled position by Christian Azzopardi that did not allow an intervention by Gharb’s keeper.
HT (2-2)
Second Half
St Lawrence had an excellent start in the second period and managed to take the lead for the first time during the encounter at an early stage so that they increased their efforts and continued to dictate matters until the end of the encounter.
3’ (3-2) St Lawrence put their heads in front when Daniel Atzori took the ball from Gharb’s goalie following a pass by a defender and the striker concluded easily into an open goal.
24’ Gharb’s goalie was called to make a difficult intervention to turn to a corner a shot from a free kick by James Grima.
29’ (4-2) St Lawrence practically made sure of the win when Gharb’s defence cleared badly following a corner action and the Spurs recovered possession, Victor John Saliba delivered a cross from the left flank and Jurgen Attard headed into an open goal from an ideal position.
43’ Gharb’s substitute goalkeeper Etienne Bajada was well placed and saved well a good shot by St Lawrence’s Ebube Ralph Okpokwu.
FT (SLS 4 – GR 2)
Referee: Carmel Vassallo
Asst. Referees: Luca Formosa, Jules Ngangue
Photo: Anthony Cassar
0 Comments