MELITA 2ND DIV LEAGUE

ST LAWRENCE REACH XAGHRA AT THE TOP

XAGHRA UNITED FC ...

M. Vella, J. Attard, J. Bartolo (D. Attard), J. Agius, S. Sultana, P. Attard, E. Bugeja, J. Galea, M. Bezzina, D. Bartolo (S.F. Bajada), S. Sultana (J. Mercieca).

 ST.LAWRENCE SPURS FC ...

S. Micallef, P.A. Attard, F. Grima, L. Pisani, S. Sultana (L. Cauchi), M. Cutajar, G. Conti, S. Muscat, C. Cauchi (E. Grima), N.Mercieca, D. Micallef.

   St Lawrence Spurs inflicted the first defeat to Xaghra United and with the three points obtained they reach the same Xaghra at the top of the table.  The match was quite balanced as Xaghra could have defended their sole leadership with a draw.  However, they ended up being over-confident and became confused as they suffered the goal.  On the other hand the Saints were very prudent and based their approach to this difficult encounter on an organized defense.  They managed to score the goal that decided the match near the end of the first half and defended for the rest of the match.  St Lawrence Spurs had two players missing for this match, Renzo Formosa due to suspension and Jonathan Micallef due to an injury.

   Play was quite balanced during the first period.  Xaghra saw more of the ball but the Saints were well deployed and kept danger away from their area.  St Lawrence created a good scoring opportunity on 9 minutes but Gothard Conti incredibly headed over the crossbar from close distance a cross from the flank by Paul Anthony Attard.  Play took play at the midfield and scoring opportunities on the two goals were rare.  Xaghra were dangerous on the half hour through a shot from outside the area by Michael Bezzina that was turned in corner by goalie Samuel Micallef.  Minutes later Xaghra’s Josef Galea incredibly headed wide from close distance a corner action.  Michael Bezzina went again close to scoring in the 38^th minute but Michael Bezzina’s attempt from outside the area ended just high.  The Spurs opened the score two minutes from half time.  Paul Anthony Attard dribbled two direct opponents just outside the area and unmarked Shaun Muscat.  The latter fired an angled shot that surprised goalie Matthew Vella.

   Xaghra came out more aggressive after the break and produced some pressure over St Lawrence’s rearguard.  On the hour of play a header by Joseph Bartolo from a corner kick by Eman Bugeja was saved in two attempts by goalie Samuel Formosa.  Four minutes later a strike by Philip Attard ended just wide and later an effort by Eman Bugeja just missed the target.  The Saints had a good effort by Neville Mercieca that was neutralized by goalie Matthew Vella.  Two minutes later goalie Samuel Micallef failed to stop a cross by substitute Daniel Attard but Josef Galea failed to connect in front of an open goal.  On 82 minutes Xaghra ended with ten players when substitute Sam Frank Bajada was sent off for a second yellow card and two minutes later goalie Micallef had good timing to block a dangerous attempt by Philip Attard.  In the 89^th minute an effort by substitute Joseph Mercieca ended just high and in the second minute of stoppage time St Lawrence could have doubled the score but two consecutive attempts by Shaun Muscat were blocked by the defense.  The match stopped for some minutes due to an injury and in the eighth minute of stoppage time the Saints were also reduced to ten players when Neville Mercieca received a second yellow card for a foul on the edge of the area.      

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