GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Qala obtain first win
Qala S : 3 (D. Zamora 44’, 68’; F. Mumford 85’)
- Buttigieg, S. Sillato, F. Mumford, J. Rapa, M. Pace, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, W. Cassar (C. Caruana), M. Cefai (C. Portelli), D. Zamora, S. Dimech (N. Portelli).
Gharb R : 1 (D. Bellotti 60’)
- Spiteri, A. Sultana, C. Gafa’, J. Azzopardi, Chr. Attard, R. Grech, Cri. Attard (J. Muscat), D. Bellotti, P.A. Attard, J. Camenzuli (F. Attard), A. Ofulue.
Qala Saints defeated contenders for promotion Gharb Rangers and with the points obtained they moved away from the bottom of the table. This was the first win for the Maroons in the campaign and they are now aiming to improve their position on the table. In this match Gharb were aiming to obtain the full points at stake in an attempt to retain the leadership but with this defeat they ended up in the third place on the table and trailing by two points from the top of the table. Gharb held territorial supremacy during the first half but failed to capitalise from their best scoring opportunities. Qala surprised their more quoted opponents with the opening goal just before the break and produced the better play during the second period so that the Maroons ended up obtaining a deserved win. In this encounter Qala’s Brian Meilak was playing his 600th competitive match in his career while Argentine striker Dario Zamora marked his debut with Qala by scoring a brace. On the other hand Gharb’s Andrew Ofulue had a quiet debut.
Gharb seemed more aggressive during the first part of the match and could have opened the score on 10 minutes but a shot by Christian Attard was saved to a corner by goalie Franco Buttigieg. The same player had another attempt five minutes later but his shot missed the target. Gharb found it difficult to convert their play into good scoring opportunities so that their best occasion to open the score arrived on 36 minutes when a direct corner kick by Ryan Grech hit the crossbar. Qala managed to open the score on 44 minutes against the run of play when Gharb’s defence failed to clear the ball from the area following a free kick from long distance by Brian Meilak and Dario Zamora concluded in goal with a close ranged shot.
Qala seemed more confident after the break and on 52 minutes they went close to double the score but Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri saved with difficulty to a corner a shot from an angled position by Dario Zamora. Gharb levelled the score on the hour mark through a strike by Dylan Bellotti after receiving from Andrew Ofulue. Play became more balanced in the following minutes and on 63 minutes Qala’s John Rapa had a header from a corner kick by Brian Meilak that ended just wide. The Saints regained the lead on 68 minutes when Dario Zamora entered Gharb’s area and netted with a low drive. Gharb’s best opportunity to score the equaliser arrived on 76 minutes but Andrew Ofulue had his low shot turned with difficulty to a corner by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Two minutes later Gharb’s Dylan Bellotti had an attempt through a back-heel, after receiving from Paul Anthony Attard, that ended just wide with the goalkeeper beaten. During the last part of the encounter Qala had control of play and on 82 minutes a good shot by Dario Zamora was saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri. Qala sealed the victory with the third goal that arrived on 85 minutes through a shot from long distance by Francisco Mumford that surprised goalie Daniel Spiteri.
Referee: Gordon Camilleri
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