ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

SANNAT CONSOLIDATE THIRD SPOT ON THE TABLE

   Sannat Lions obtained a double over Xaghra United with two late goals so that with the points obtained they consolidated their third positing on the table. It was a deserved win for the Lions. They were the better side, held command of the midfield and produced more pressure than their opponents. Sannat kept insisting although Xaghra resisted at their defence so that they were rewarded for their efforts in the final stages of the match. Xaghra once again tried to produce a defensive match and based their chances to win the points at stake with fast breaks. The match became tough in the last minutes and the two teams had a player sent off.

   Sannat took command of play from the early stages going close to scoring through a cross-shot by Fernando de Andrade that missed the target. Xaghra’s Silvan Galea replied with a fine move but was tackled in time before concluding from an ideal position. The Lions could have opened the score in the 10^th minute. Errol Grima’s corner kick was blocked with difficulty by goalie Donald Gauci and from the rebound de Andrade’s attempt was cleared form the goalmouth. In the 18^th minute Xaghra’s goalkeeper Donald Gauci made two difficult saves to block two consecutive shots by Mark Muscat from a cross by de Andrade.

In the 32^nd minute goalie Gauci was well placed and saved an overhead kick by Kenneth Mercieca following a corner action and one minute later the same goalkeeper saved well a long ranged free kick by Errol Grima. In the 34^th minute Xaghra went very close to scoring. Silvan Galea’s through pass arrived to Abdul Mutalib and the latter’s low shot from an angled position was deflected to corner with the goalkeeper beaten.

    The Lions continued to dictate matters after the break but Xaghra’s rearguard was well deployed so that goalie Gauci was not called to make difficult saves. The Blues started the share more play with their opponents and created some panic in Sannat’s defence especially through Silvan Galea and Abdul Mutalib. Xaghra were dangerous in the 67^th minute when substitute Johan Attard entered the area from the left but his low cross was concluded badly by Silvan Galea.

   The Lions replied two minutes later with a long ranged shot by Mario Cutajar, who had a good match, which was blocked by goalie Gauci. Sannat opened the score in the 70^th minute. Fernando de Andrade entered the area with a solo effort, won a rebound with a defender and placed out of Gauci’s reach with a fine strike. Xaghra replied with a long ranged free kick by Leandro Blanco de Castro that was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. Later Sannat’s Paul Spiteri had an attempt from outside the area that ended wide.

   In the 79^th minute a shot by Silvan Galea was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. Two minutes later the two teams ended with a player less on the field when Xaghra’s Alex Tramboo was red carded for a foul on goalie Bajada and Sannat’s Frank Debono was sent off for retaliation. The Lions, however, doubled the score and sealed the victory in the 87^th minute through Mark Muscat’s angled shot after winning a tussle with the defence in the area.

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY