SK VICTORIA WANDERERS WIN DIVISION II TITLE

XEWKIJA TIGERS FC 

SK Victoria Wanderers obtained a close victory over Xewkija Tigers and with the three points they won the title and promotion.  This was the last match of the campaign and also a direct clash for direct promotion to the Division I.  Both SK Victoria Wanderers and Xewkija Tigers were coming from a series of convincing victories and were therefore in fine form at this decisive moment of the campaign.  Overall the two sides produced a good match, worthy of a cup-tie, where the result remained uncertain until the final whistle of the referee. 

With this defeat Xewkija ended at the runners-up position on the table.  They still have an opportunity to gain promotion through the promotion/relegation play-off which they will contest against Kercem Ajax who ended at the second place from the bottom of the Division I table.

          Xewkija seemed more adventurous at the very beginning.  They saw more of the ball but failed to produce dangerous actions.  On the other hand the Wanderers were more prudent and operated initially with counter attacks.  They created more danger than their opponents.  In the 9^th minute Joseph Refalo had a shot from outside the area that ended over the crossbar and in the 17^th minute Mark Buttigieg’s header from a free kcik by Chris Scirotino was saved by Xewkija’s goalie Joseph Grima.  The Wanderers opened the score in the 19^th minute.  Ige Adesina followed a through pass by Chris Sciortino and lobbed the ball over goalie Grima was went out of goal in an attempt to block the danger.

          The Tigers were shocked and their goalkeeper became more involved in the match, keeping his side in contention with a series of good saves.  Xewkija’s goalie turned in corner a cross-shot by Ajibade Adesina in the 22^nd minute and three minutes later the same goalkeeper blocked a low shot by Joseph Vella following a good move by Ige Adesina.  Xewkija had their best opportunity to level the score in the 28^th minute. Christian Bugeja unmarked Mark Camilleri in the area but the latter hit badly and Victoria’s goalie saved well the close ranged attempt. 

On the half hour Victoria were unlucky when a strike from an angled position by Ige Adesina hit the post and from the rebound Joseph Refalo concluded over the crossbar.  In the 33^rd minute Victoria’s defender Simon Gatt was well placed to clear a cross by Tefogno in corner which was addressed to an unmarked Mark Camilleri at the second post. In the following minutes Victoria’s Joseph Vella had two shots on separate occasion where he could have doubled the score but his first attempt ended high while his second shot was well saved by goalie Joseph Grima.  In the 41^st minute Victoria Mark Buttigieg had a header from a cross by Simon Gatt that ended just wide.

Xewkija produced a good reaction on the resumption and in the 50^th minute Victoria’ goalie Marlon Mercieca was called to save a header by Luc Tefogno from a corner kick by Joseph Cefai.  Five minutes later a shot from outside the area by Paul Rapa from a pass by Christian Bugeja ended inches over the crossbar.  In the 60^th minute Christian Bugeja had a goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.  The Wanderers started to suffer the pressure and found to reply with counter attacks.  However, Xewkija failed to produce good scoring opportunities and as time passed by the Wanderers settled better and went close to scoring.  In the 74^th minute Ige Adesina had a low shot following a personal action that was well saved by goalie Joseph Grima and minutes later the same Adesina had a lob from a fast break that missed the target.  In the 84^th minute Victoria’s goalie Mercieca went out of his position to block on Christian Bugeja who was released in the area by Luc Tefogno.  Victoria were reduced to ten players in the 87^th minute when Simon Gatt was sent off for a foul away from action.  The Wanderers had a second player, Ajibade Adesina, sent off in the third minute of stoppage time for a foul on Michael Pace.

Referee: Glenn Tonna

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY