GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria W : 4 (A. Ige 28’, A. Adesina 76’, 81’; A.G. Attard 78’)
G. Ratto, N.J. Guerrero, M. Vasiljevic, S. Harland (A.G. Attard), C. Sciortino, I. Xuereb, N. Vella (A. Touarha), R. Grech, D.U. Monday, A.A. Ige, A. Adesina.
Oratory Y : 0
R. Sammut, M. Buttigieg, R. Ebube Okpokwu, A. Bezzina, J. Buttigieg (K. Grima), K. Farrugia, J. Polo Longarela, S. Mbacke, G.B. Mfulwane, J. Attard (C. Mercieca), S. Azzopardi (D. Azzopardi).
The match between SK Victoria Wanderers and Oratory Youths was a direct clash between the two sides who occupied the two places at the bottom of the table for most of the championship and which had to determine the team to be relegated and the other to contest the play-off against the runners up of the second division league. This was also the last match of the championship for the two sides and therefore Oratory Youths needed the three points from this encounter to move over the Wanderers, while the latter could have defended their second place from the bottom to avoid the automatic relegation with a draw. The match was well contested for more than an hour of play as the Youths pressed forward in an attempt to achieve their objective but were often erratic in their finishing and were also unlucky on two occasions that they had attempts stopped by the woodwork. The Wanderers defended for long stretches but opened the score near the half hour mark and made sure of the victory with three other goals scored in the final stages of the match. With this result Oratory Youths were relegated after five consecutive seasons in the top flight and SK Victoria Wanderers gained the possibility to defend their status in the play-off,
Oratory Youths took command of play from the early stages and on 15 minutes hey could have opened the sore but a close ranged strike by Botshelo Gibson Mfulwane following a move by Ralph Ebube Okpokwu was stopped by the post. The Wanderers opened the score in their first serious attempt towards Oratory’s area that arrived on 28 minutes when Sam Harland released Abdullahi Ige inside Oratory’s area and netted with a fine strike. Two minutes later the Youths replied with an overhead kick by Javier Polo Longarela following a free kick from long distance that ended over the crossbar and on 42 minutes a free kick by Joshua Buttigieg ended just wide from Victoria’s goal. Oratory went again close to level the score on 45 minutes but Botshelo Gibson Mfulwane hesitated to conclude when he was inside Victoria’s area so that the defence recovered and cleared the danger with some difficulty.
The Wanderers continued to control their lead after the break but took more advantage of some space within Oratory’s defence so that they operated some dangerous breaks. On 53 minutes Victoria’s Sam Harland entered Oratory’s area but his attempt was well saved by goalie Richard Sammut. Less than a minute later the Wanderers were again dangerous through a strike by Ian Xuereb that was partially saved by goalie Richard Sammut and form the rebound Ajibade Adesina’s attempt ended wide. Oratory replied in the following action when Botshelo Gibson Mfulwane entered Victoria’s area but his shot was weak and goalie Giacomo Ratto saved in two attempts. Oratory kept insisting and on 57 minutes an effort by Joshua Buttigieg following a cross by Samuel Azzopardi missed the target. On the hour mark Victoria’s Abdullahi Ige had a shot directly from a free kick that ended just high and on 67 minutes Oratory were again unlucky when Botshelo Gibson Mfulwane arrived on the ball before goalie Giacomo Ratto but his lob from close distance hit the crossbar and central defender David Udo Monday cleared the danger from the goalmouth. Oratory’s last serious opportunity where they could have levelled the score arrived on 73 minutes but a strike by Manuel Buttigieg ended wide. The Wanderers practically made sure of the victory with the second goal that arrived on 76 minutes through a low shot by Ajibade Adesina who was unmarked inside the area by Abdullahi Ige. Two minutes later the Wanderers added another goal scored by substitute Anthony George Attard who netted with a low shot after receiving form Abdullahi Ige. The Wanderers sealed the victory with the fourth goal that was scored on 81 minutes through a header by Ajibade Adesina following a cross by Anthony George Attard.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
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