SPRITE 2ND DIVISION LEAGUE

GOALIE ADRIAN PARNIS DENIES XEWKIJA FROM A VICTORY

         Contenders for promotion Xewkija Tigers were surprisingly held to a draw by Munxar Falcons in an interesting match where the result remained uncertain until the final whistle of the referee. With this result Xewkija are now three points from joint leaders SK Victoria Wanderers and St Lawrence Spurs, while Munxar are now in a better position to aim to move further away from the lower places on the table. The protagonist of the match was undoubtedly Munxar’s goalkeeper Adrian Parnis who denied Xewkija from scoring a decisive goal in the final stages of the match on more than one occasion.

The Tigers had an excellent start and opened the score in the 4^th minute through a low shot by Christian Bugeja. The Flacons had an immediate reaction and minutes later an effort by Chris Debrincat was cleared off the fatal line by Paul Rapa.  Xewkija were again dangerous in the 7^th minute with an attempt by Christian Bugeja that was well saved by goalie Parnis, while Xewkija’s extreme defender was called to make a good save in the 27^th minute following an effort by Chris Debrincat. In the 37^th minute an effort by Xewkija’s skipper Joseph Cefai just missed the target while Munxar’s Patrick Falzon failed to connect in the 44^th minute following an inviting pass by Takam.

The Falcons produced their best patch of play in the initial stages of the second period. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 55^th minute when they leveled the score from a penalty awarded for a foul by goalie Grima on Robert Said and converted by Patrick Falzon. Xewkija took few minutes to recover from the shock but held pressure over Munxar’s rearguard for the last half hour of play. However, they found Munxar’s goalkeeper in an excellent form and their efforts could not pass past Parnis. In the 62^nd minute goalie Parnis turned in corner a header by Christian Bugeja. Minutes later an effort by the same Bugeja was deflected on the post by the same goalkeeper and from the rebound Parnis blocked a closed ranged shot by Luc. Munxar could have scored in the 76^th minute but Takam’s shot following a fast break ended just wide. In the 80^th minute a header by substitute Shaun Mizzi from a free kick by Saviour Farrugia was again deflected in corner by goalie Parnis and minutes later an effort by Luc from a good position ended wide. Parnis saved the result in the 87^th when substitute Michael Pace was released in the area but his closed ranged effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.   Referee:  Sammy Attard

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY