MELITA 2ND DIV LEAGUE

SPURS CELEBRATE SECOND DIVISION TITLE IN STYLE

ST LAWRENCE SPURS FC ...

  (J. Micallef 61’, N. Mercieca 90+1’)

S. Micallef, J. Micallef, F. Grima, L. Pisani, S. Sultana (L. Cauchi), M. Cutajar (S. Caruana), G. Conti (R. Formosa), S. Muscat, C. Cauchi, N. Mercieca, D. Micallef.

 XAGHRA UNITED FC ...

M. Sultana, Sm. Sultana, Sh. Sultana (J. Sultana), M. Scerri, J. Galea, M. Buhagiar, M. Bezzina (J. Portelli), D. Bartolo, A.Bajada (E. Bugeja), D. Attard, J. Agius.

  Two goals scored in the second period earned St Lawrence Spurs the third win over Xaghra United in the last match of the Second Division championship.  The Spurs were already sure of the title but were determined to end the campaign on a positive note.  They seemed more aggressive and kept pressing to achieve their goal until the final seconds.  The victory for the Spurs was therefore well deserved as much as it was the honour which puts them back in the top flight after an absence of ten years.  Although St Lawrence were not considered as favourites for promotion, they were consistent throughout the season and well prepare to face the decisive matches particularly the direct clashes against main contenders Xaghra United.  The success for St Lawrence was a result of a collective effort between the officials, coach and players.  Player-coach Gothard Conti not only managed to obtain such a prestigious result in his first year with the Saints but also ended up the top-scorer of the category together with Dione Lautier of Oratory Youths. 

  The Spurs saw more of the ball during the initial stages but Xaghra covered their area and operated with dangerous counter breaks.  On 18 minutes a low shot by Daniel Bartolo was neutralised by the Saints keeper Samuel Micallef.  The Spurs replied one minute later through an attempt by player-coach Gothard Conti that ended over the crossbar.  On 22 minutes Shaun Sultana’s deflection from a free kick by Daniel Attard ended wide from St Lawrence’s goal and three minutes later goalie Micallef was called to make a difficult save following a direct free kick by Anthony Bajada.  Xaghra suffered a set-back one minute before the half hour of play when Josef Galea was sent off for flooring Jonathan Micallef who was entering the area.  Xaghra were not demoralised and were dangerous again on 38 minutes through a low shot by Daniel Attard that was well blocked by goalie Samuel Micallef.  Five minutes later the same goalkeeper was called to make another difficult intervention to block a well taken free kick by Michael Bezzina and one minute from half time the goalie Micallef neutralised a header by Daniel Bartolo from a free kick by substitute Eman Bugeja.

  The Saints regained command of play after the resumption and on 49 minutes a direct corner kick by substitute Renzo Formosa was turned into another corner by goalie Marvin Sultana.  St. Lawrence’s pressure was rewarded one minute after the hour of play when Jonathan Micallef was at the right place for a tap-in following a long ranged free kick by Laurant Pisani.  Xaghra had an immediate reaction and in the following minutes they put some pressure on St Lawrence’s rearguard.  On 64 minutes goalie Micallef was called to make a difficult save following a fine strike by substitute Joseph Sultana.  The Saints replied on 71 minute with a shot from outside the area by Renzo Formosa that just missed the target and three minutes later Xaghra were dangerous through a direct free kick by Eman Bugeja that ended just wide.  On 75 minute the Spurs had a low shot by substitute Lawrence Cauchi ended just wide and one minute later Xaghra’s Daniel Bartolo entered the area but his close ranged shot was well saved by goalie Samuel Micallef.  Ten minutes from time Xaghra goalie Marvin Sultana was well placed to neutralise a low shot by Franklin Grima.  The Saints sealed the issue with a second goal scored in the first minute of stoppage time through an excellent strike by Neville Mercieca from outside the area that surprised the goalkeeper and ended in the upper corner of the net.

  After the final whistle the players, officials and supporters started their celebrations to mark the prestigious honour, as the GFA President Mr Alvin Grech and the GFA General Secretary Mr. Joe Bajada presented the medals to all the players and the trophy to captain Samuel Micallef.

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