ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

NADUR REGAIN SOLE LEADERSHIP

D Gauci, P Attard, A Tramboo, J Bartolo, L Balnco de Castro, J Attard (N Sultana), S Galea (A Mutalib), VJ Saliba (J Mercieca), L Buttigieg, SF Bajada, M Buhagiar

J Xuereb, J Meilaq, P Buttigieg, A Secco, D Odovic, C Camilleri, A Simoncic, C Hili, E Nkwankwo (S Attard), A Portelli, J Portelli (J Buttigieg).

     Nadur Youngsters recovered from a negative patch, where they obtained only one point from the last three matches, and registered a 2-0 victory over Xaghra United. It was a hard-earned victory that was decided with an early goal and a goal scored in the last second of play.

     For the rest of the match Xaghra tried to recover the deficit but they were punished due to their limitations in attack. On the other hand, the Youngsters confirmed that they lost their superiority expressed in the first part of the season and in this match they tried to be pragmatic and defend their one goal lead.

   Nadur could not have had a better start. They opened the score in the 3^rd minute through an excellent strike from outside the area by Alex Simoncic following a short clearance by the defence.

   The reigning champions continued to be the insist and in the 6^th minute a good shot by Chris Camilleri ended wide and minutes later an effort by Alex Simoncic was well saved by goalie Donald Gauci. Xaghra recovered from the early shock and tried to produce a reaction. However, they failed to create good scoring opportunities.

    They Youngsters became more danger with fast breaks. In the 14^th minute Jeffrey Meilaq was released by Anthony Portelli but the former had his good shot from an angled position that hit the crossbar.

   On the half hour Xaghra’s goalie Donald Gauci was called to make a difficult save to turn in corner an effort by Charles Hili. Other attempts by Alex Simoncic and Anthony Portelli just missed the target.

    In the 37^th minute Xaghra’s Sammy Frank Bajada cleared off the line a free kick by Alex Simoncic and later Eric Nkwankwo concluded badly from a good position. Seconds from half time a free kick by Xaghra’s Blanco de Cstro ended just over the crossbar.

      After the break Xaghra were more aggressive and kept some pressure over their opponents. However, they rarely tested goalie Xuereb, while Nadur’s fast break were generally neutralised by Xaghra’s rearguard. Nadur could have doubled the score in the 76^th minute when Simoncic released Anhtony Portelli in the area but the latter’s lob ended wide. Xaghra’s best opportunity to score the equlaiser arrived five minutes later through a free kick by Leandro Blanco de Castro that was saved with difficulty in corner by goalie Jonathan Xuereb.

     In the second minute of stoppage time Xaghra’s goalie Gauci turned in corner a good shot by Anthony Portelli. Nadur sealed the issue in the last second of play with an excellent goal by Chris Camilleri, who headed in goal an inviting cross from the right by Anthony Portelli.

Referee:         Anton Zammit

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY