Xaghra defeat St Lawrence with a goal in each half

28 January 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 9) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Xaghra United FC : 2
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0

7’ (1-0) Kenneth Mercieca
69’ (2-0) Kenneth Mercieca

Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, J. Bajada, S. Galea, L. Meilak (J. Xuereb), M. Cordina, D. Azzopardi, E. Galea, K. Mercieca
(L. Sultana), F.J. Xuereb (S. Bonello), M. Bezzina (G. Debono), L. Garcia Panesso.

St Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, M. Dingli, A. Ademilua, G. Portelli (N. Haber), C. Grima, V.J. Saliba, J. Grima, D. Micallef (J.
Azzopardi), J.M. Portelli (C. Azzopardi), W. Hili (L. Portelli), J. Axiak.

Xaghra United confirmed their complete recovery from a difficult period and registered a 2-0 win from
their match against St Lawrence Spurs so that they retained their chance to re-join the race for
promotion.

Xaghra’s win was well deserved as they dictated matters for most of the encounter but they found it
difficult to convert their superiority in goals so that their opponents remained in contention to obtain a
positive result most of the time. Xaghra’s win matured with a goal scored in each half by Kenneth
Mercieca.

Timeline:
Xaghra took command of play from the early stages and took the driving seat by taking the lead with a
goal scored during the initial stages of the encounter. St Lawrence’s reaction was sterile while Xaghra’s
strikers became often erratic so that the score remained unchanged until the end of the first half.
7’ (1-0) Xaghra opened the score when Kenneth Mercieca received the ball on the left flank and his
cross-shot took a deflection the ball went out of the reach of the goalkeeper and ended in the net.
24’ Xaghra could have doubled the score but an effort by Leiner Garcia Panesso from a good position
after receiving from Luke Meilak missed the target.
HT (1-0)
Second Half

St Lawrence failed to produce a reaction so Xaghra continued to enjoy territorial supremacy and
created some potential scoring opportunities.
14’ Xaghra’s Kenneth Mercieca could have added another goal but his attempt from a good position
ended wide.
18’ St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras was well placed and turned to a corner a good shot by Leiner
Garcia Panesso.
24’ (2-0) Xaghra put their minds at rest from the three points by scoring the second goal when Kenneth
Mercieca concluded in goal an initiative by substitute Joel Xuereb.

FT (XU 2 – SLS 0)
Referee: Patrick Falzon