ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

TREBLE FOR THE LIONS ON XAGHRA UNITED

D Bajada, P Spiteri, F Debono (S Rais), J Agius, C de Oliveira, A Debono, M Cutajar, E Grima (N Micallef), M Muscat, K Merceica, F de Andrade.

    Sannat Lons defeated Xaghra United for the third time in the campaign and with the three points obtained they move to the second place on the table. It was a deserved victory for Sannat. They created more scoring opportunities and they could have made sure of the result at an earlier stage. Xaghra kept their challenge for the first half hour of play but suffered pressure in the last stages of the first half. The Blues ended with a player less in the dying seconds of the first period that complicated their efforts to win points from this encounter.

    Play was quite entertaining during the first period with various scoring opportunities. Xaghra had the first scoring opportunity in the 7^th minute through a low shot by Johann Attard that was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. The Lions replied with a free kick by Cristiano de Oliveira that missed the target. In the 9^th minute an effort by Xaghra’s Johann Attard ended just over the crossbar and one minute later Sannat’s Mark Muscat had a good shot that ended wide. In the 13^th minute Xaghra were unlucky when a shot from an angled position by Mark Buhagiar hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. Sannat were dangerous in the 20^th minute when Fernando de Andrade entered the area, dribbled tow defenders but concluded badly with an open goal at his mercy. Sannat’s Paul Spiteri had a free kick in the 23^rd minute that ended high, while a free kick by Xaghra’s Blanco de Castro was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. The same Blanco de Castro saved his goal in the 32^nd minute when he cleared off the fatal line a close ranged effort by Errol Grima. Three minutes later Xaghra’s goalie Gauci made a difficult save following an attempt by De Andrade and later a shot by Frank Debono from a cross by Errol Grima shaved the crossbar. In the 39^th minute Xaghra’s Alex Tramboo had a shot from a clearance by the defence that ended just over the crossbar and in the 44^th minute an attempt by Sannat’s de Andrade just missed the crossbar. In the first minute of stoppage time of the first half Xaghra ended with a player less on the field when Victor John Saliba was sent off for a second caution.

    Sannat took advantage of the extra player in the first part of the second period. In the 47^th minute Xaghra’s goalie Gauci made a good save following an attempt by de Andrade and in the 53^rd minute the Lions opened the score. Xaghra’s rearguard cleared a free kick by Paul Spiteri and from the lose ball Mark Muscat placed in goal from an angled position. Sannat reduced their pressure and failed to insist for more goals. Xaghra on the other hand recovered from the shock and as time passed by the produced some pressure over their opponents.

    In the 64^th minute Philip Attard headed just wide following a cross by Johann Attard and in the 68^th minute an attempt by Alex Tramboo ended wide. Sannat’s goalie Demis Bajada was called to make a difficult save in the 71^st to turn in corner a header by Blanco de Castro from a cross by Johann Attard. From the same corner action Shaun Sultana concluded wide from a good position. Two minutes later the same goalkeeper made the best save of the afternoon to turn in corner a close ranged header by Alex Tramboo.

    In the following minutes the same goalie Bajada blocked a close ranged effort by Shaun Sultana. Sannat regained command of play in the dying moments. In the 81^st minute Xaghra’s goalie Donald Gauci saved a good effort by substitute Sabri Rais and from the rebound Mark Muscat concluded badly in front of an open goal. One minute later the same Gauci save in corner an attempt by Kenneth Mercieca. Sannat doubled the score in the 84^th minute through a header by Errol Grima following a corner by Paul Spiteri. Xaghra could have scored a consolation goal in the 89^th minute but a shot by Larry Buttigieg ended wide. Sannat sealed the issue in the first minute of stoppage time through a low shot by Fernando de Andrade who was released in the area by Errol Grima.

Referee:         Paul Apap

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY