SPRITE 2ND DIVISION LEAGUE

THE WANDERERS RE-JOIN XEWKIJA AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE

          SK Victoria Wanderers took revenge for the defeat conceded by Oratory Youths in the second round of the campaign and obtained the three points at stake with a victory in this derby match.  It was a deserved win for the Wanderers.  They dictated matters for long stretches and took advantage of the fact that the Youths had a number of regular players missing due to injuries and suspension.  However, the Wanderers were expected to produce a better performance.  It was evident that their strikers are not in their best form and their defence was often shaky in controlling Oratory’s rare breaks.  Victoria’s protagonist was Ajibade Adesina who scored three goals that decided the issue.

          The Wanderers took command of play from the very beginning but the Youths were well deployed and Victoria’s striker were very often frustrated with the pressure form their opponents.  The first serious action arrived in the 15^th minute through an angled shot by Ige Adesina that ended n the side of the net.  Oratory replied with fast breaks and one minute later Victoria’s goalie Marlon Mercieca had go out of his position to clear danger before Ishaku Umoru could conclude in goal.  In the 25^th minute Ajibade Adesina was unmarked in the area by Ige Adesina, but the former incredibly concluded over the crossbar in front of an open goal.  One minute later Oratory’s goalie Kenny Grima turned with difficulty in corner an angled strike by Ajibade Adesina.  The Wanderers were rewarded for their efforts in the 27^th minute.  Lauran Dimech entered the area from the right and from his cross Ajibade Adesina placed in goal from close distance.  Oratory’s reaction was sterile while the Wanderers failed to insist with their pressure in an attempt to increase the lead.

          The score became 2-0 after only 25 seconds of play in the second period with a shot by Ajibade Adesina following a short clearance by the defence.  In the 51^st minute a strike from outside the area by Chris Sciortino ended just high. Four minutes later oratory’s skipper Marvin Grech cleared off the line an attempt by Ige Adesina from a corner action.  The Wanderers maintained pressure over their opponents but the strikers failed to create dangerous actions.  On the other hand the Youths had two opportunities from free kicks by Marvin Grech that missed the target.  Ajibade continued to be Victoria’s most dangerous player.  The striker had a good effort in the 69^th minute that ended just wide and the same player was unlucky one minute later when his attempt from close distance following a cross by Ige Adesina hit the crossbar.  Ige Adesina was also dangerous minutes later with two efforts on separate occasions.  In the first occasion his header from a free kick by Ajibade Adesina was well saved by goalie Kenny Grima and in the second occasion his shot following a personal action ended wide.  The Wanderers sealed the issue in the 79^th minute with a goal by Ajibade Adesina, who registered a personal hat-trick, to conclude a fine move by Ige Adesina.  In the dying seconds an attempt by substitute Joseph vella ended just wide.

Referee: Joe Agius

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY