MELITA 2ND DIV LEAGUE

DRAMATIC WIN FOR ORATORY
 ORATORY YOUTHS FC ... (F. Cini 87’, 90+5’; A. Sacco 90+3’)

E. Fenech, K. Grech, J. Cassar, C. Attard, G. Grech, M. Grech, O. Saliba (G.F. Mizzi), G.L. Zammit, A. Sacco, F. Cini, J. Grech (D. Bugeja).
ZEBBUG ROVERS FC ... (J. Farrugia 58’)

N. Saliba, C. Gafa, P. Cardona, J. Hili, M. Calleja, F. Magrin, J. Farrugia, M. Pace, C. Cassar, R. Zammit, F. Attard.

  For this match Oratory had Dione Lautier and Andrew Zammit missing from the starting line-up while Zebbug were without the service of Sylvan Galea and Gabriel Sillato.

  Oratory Youths earned the third spot on the table with a dramatic win over direct contenders for the same position on the table Zebbug Rovers.  This was the last match of the campaign for Zebbug who needed three points to make sure of achieving their main target for this season.  The Rovers seemed heading to obtain the victory until the dying moments but suffered Oratory’s reaction in the dying moments that turned the result.  Zebbug, who were without the service of Gabriel Sillato and Sylvan Galea for this match, also had three players sent off.

  Oratory’s win matured with three goals scored in the dying stages of the match.  The Youths disappointed during the regular time.  They failed to take advantage when Zebbug were reduced to ten players ten minutes from half time.  The Youths, who w suffered a goal in the early stages of the second period which they only managed to recover with an equalizer scored three minutes from time.  Oratory made sure of the three points which puts them on the third spot on the table with two more goals scored during stoppage time.

  Zebbug could have scored an early goal but an angled shot by Josmar Farrugia following a solo action was well saved by goalie Elliot Fenech, Oratory took the upper hand as time passed by and produced danger on Zebbug’s goal.  On 15 minutes a long ranged shot by Alex Sacco ended high.  Four minutes later Zebbug’s goalie Noel Saliba neutralized an effort by George Louis Zammit.  On 22 minutes a shot by Francesco Cini from an angled position ended on the side of the net.  Oratory were again dangerous on the half hour of play but Alex Sacco concluded badly from an ideal position after receiving from George Louis Zammit and one minute later a header by Francesco Cini from a corner action ended just wide. Zebbug were reduced to ten players on 34 minutes when Mario Calleja was sent off for retaliation following a confused action in Zebbug’s area.  Zebbug’s President Teddy Cefai was also ordered to leave the reserves bench for protests.  Zebbug were not demoralized and shared play with their opponents until the break.

  Oratory came out aggressive for the second period but Zebbug became dangerous with counter breaks.  In the 47th minute Zebbug’s goalie Noel Saliba denied Joseph Grech from opening the score with a fine intervention.  On 49 minutes Zebbug replied with an attempt by Frank Attard that ended wide and three minutes later Oratory replied with a strike by Francesco Cini after receiving from Alex Sacco that ended just wide.  On 55 minutes Oratory’s goalie Elliot Fenech turned in corner with difficulty a long ranged shot by Ryan Zammit and two minutes later Oratory replied with a low shot from outside the area by Francesco Cini that ended just wide.  Zebbug opened the score on 58 minutes through a first timer by Josmar Farrugia following a cross from the right flank.  Oratory’s reaction arrived on 63 minutes when George Louis Zammit entered Zebbug’s area with a solo effort but his low shot hit the base of the post.  Oratory kept insisting but found it difficult to create good scoring opportunities.  On 72 minutes Zebbug’s goalie Noel Saliba blocked a low shot by Joseph Grech and on 75 minutes the same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult save to stop a close ranged shot by Joshua Cassar.

  Six minutes from time Zebbug had a second player sent off when the referee sent Philip Cardona for an early shower following a second yellow card for time wasting.  Oratory took immediate advantage of the extra players on the field and on 87 minutes they leveled the score through a low shot by Francesco Cini after receiving a pass by Chris Attard.  Oratory increased their efforts and turned the result in their favour in the third minute of stoppage time through a direct free kick by Alex Sacco that surprised goalie Noel Saliba.  Zebbug tried to produce a reaction in the dying seconds but Oratory sealed the issue with a third goal scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time by Francesco Cini who entered the area with a personal action, dribbled the goalkeeper and deposited the ball into an open goal.  The match ended pon a bad not for the Rovers as they had a Joe Hili sent off in the sixth minute of stoppage time for stopping Kevin Grech from entering the area.

Referee: Paul Apap

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