ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

GHAJNSIELEM OBTAIN THREE PRECIOUS POINTS

C Mercieca, F Camilleri, J Mercieca, A Buttigieg (G Conti), M Tabone, E Nkwocha, M Stojanovic, FL Adelson, M Azzopardi, JP Mizzi, E Hussain (J Debrincat).

     Ghajnsielem obtained three precious points from their match against Kercem Ajax and kept their chances to join the top teams. It was a well contested encounter where the two sides tried hard to win the points at stake.

     The Ajax were coming from the unexpected victory over Nadur and had Milos Stojanovic making a return after a long injury, and therefore were aiming to get further away from the bottom of the table. On the other hand the Blacks needed to take full advantage of the recent results which re-opened the race for the title. At the end Kercem probably compromised the result during the first period when they suffered the three goals, so that their determined reaction after the break was not enough to save the result.

   Ghajnsielem had an excellent start and opened the score after only fifty seconds of play through a long ranged strike by Joseph Buttigieg that surprised goalie Courtney Mercieca.

    The Ajax had an immediate reaction and in the 8^th minute Ghajnsielem’s goalie Victor Agius saved with difficulty a low shot by Franklin Adelson. Kercem’s efforts were rewarded one minute later as the levelled the score. Adelson unmarked Milos Stojanovic, who was making a return after a long injury, and the Serbian mentor placed in goal with a low shot from the edge of the area.

    Minutes later Kercem’s Manwel Tabone could have put his side in the lead but his close ranged from a free kick by Frankie Camilleri ended over the crossbar. The Blacks regained the lead in the 19^th minute through an excellent angled shot by Domnick Okanu following a cross from the left. Kercem were shocked and in the following minutes Kercem’s goalie Courtney Mercieca was called to make a series of difficult saves following efforts by John Camilleri and Brian Meilak.

    Ghajnsielem increased the lead in the 36^th with a low shot from an angled position by John Camilleri that surprised goalie Merceica. In the 42^nd minute another long ranged shot by Brian Meilak just missed the target.

   Kercem came out more aggressive for the second period. In the 48^th minute goalie Victor Agius saved with difficulty a close ranged header by Milos Stojanovic. Two minutes later the Ajax were unlucky when a header by Mario Azzopardi from a corner action hit the crossbar and from the rebound Milos Stojanovic’s attempt was cleared off the line by Stefan Azzopardi. Kercem reduced the deficit in the 56^th minute.

    A shot by Jean Paul Mizzi was blocked by the defence and from the resultant melee Milos Stojanovic placed in goal. Three minutes later Ghajnsielem’s goalie Agius made a good save following an effort by Adelson and in the 63^rd minute a first timer by substitute Gothard Conti from a cross by Adelson ended inches from the post. Ghajnsielem continued to suffered Kercem’s pressure but the Ajax had attempt on different occasions by Gothard Conti and Adelson that missed the target. In the final minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie Agius denied Kercem from scoring the equaliser with two good saves following attempts by Adelson and Jean Paul Mizzi.

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY