MELITA 2ND DIV LEAGUE

SPURS MAINTAIN FOUR POINT LEAD

ST LAWRENCE SPURS FC ...

  (M. Cutajar 14’, J. Micallef 16’, R. Formosa 20’, S. Muscat 80’)

S. Micallef, L. Cauchi, F. Grima, L. Pisani, D. Micallef, P.A. Attard, M. Cutajar (L. Buttigieg), J. Micallef, R. Formosa (N. Mercieca), C. Cauchi (S. Caruana), S. Muscat.

ZEBBUG ROVERS FC ...

(M. Pace 25’)

N. Saliba, R. Zammit, M. Calleja, J. Hili, M. Pace, J. Farrugia, S. Xuereb, C. Cassar (C. Gafa), F. Attard, A. Mutalib, S. Galea.

  St Lawrence Spurs obtained their first win in the campaign over Zebbug Rovers to consolidate their leadership.  It was a deserved win for the Saints.  They were more aggressive and practically made sure of the three points with three goals scored during the opening twenty minutes of play.  For this match St Lawrence had player coach Gothard Conti and Stefan Sultana missing due to suspension, while Zebbug were without the services of Franco Magrin, Gabriel Sillato and Philip Cardona for the same reason.  The Rovers suffered more from the suspensions as they not only found it difficult to find replacement for the three experienced players but also had to affect forced modifications to their usual deployment.

  St Lawrence took command of play from the very beginning and were unlucky not to open the sore after just one minute of play when a strike by Renzo Formosa hit the woodwork.  On 9 minutes Zebbug’s rearguard hesitated to clear a corner kick by Renzo Formosa but from the resultant melee Daniel Micallef concluded wide.  St Lawrence opened the score on 14 minutes through a direct free kick by Mario Cutajar that surprised goalie Noel Saliba.  The Spurs doubled the score two minutes later.  Zebbug’s goalie Saliba partially saved a free kick by Mario Cutajar and from the rebound Jonathan Micallef headed in goal from close distance.  The score became 3-0 on 20 minutes through a strike form outside the area by Renzo Formosa that ended out of Noel Saliba’s reach.  The Saints reduced their momentum and Zebbug found more space to operate in attack.  The Rovers also reduced the arrears on 25 minutes through a lob by Michael Pace following a through pass by Josmar Farrugia.  Three minutes later Zebbug’s goalie Noel Saliba was called to make a difficult save to turn in corner a strike by Franklin Grima following a corner action.  Just after the half hour of play Renzo Formosa entered Zebbug’s area but Noel Saliba was well placed and blocked the danger.  From the resultant melee Zebbug’s rearguard managed to clear the danger in corner.  St Lawrence went close to add another goal one minute before the break but Shaun Muscat headed wide from close distance a cross by renzo Formosa.

  After the resumption Zebbug were dangerous but Frank Attard’s effort missed the target.  On 52 minutes St. Lawrence went close to scoring but goalie Noel Saliba made two consecutive saves to block close ranged shots by Paul Anthony Attard and Christopher Cauchi.

   Two minutes later Jonathan Micallef headed wide a cross by Shaun Muscat.  Zebbug replied on 58 minutes with a fast break but Abdul Mutalib concluded badly from an ideal position.  Play continued to be interesting as Zebbug shared play in an attempt to re-open the issue.  However, St Lawrence re-established the three-goal difference and sealed the issue ten minutes from time. Mario Cutajar released Shaun Muscat and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.  Two minutes from time St Lawrence’s goalkeeper Samuel Micallef denied Zebbug from scoring their second goal when he blocked an effort by Sylvan Galea.  The Saints could have scored another goal in the dying moments but substitute Neville Mercieca failed to connect to an inviting cross by Shaun Muscat and in another occasion the same Muscat concluded wide from a good position following a personal action.  In the second minute of stoppage time St Lawrence’s goalie Micallef once again made a good save to turn in corner a direct free kick by Joe Hili.    

Website Designed By GOZO VISION STUDIO - FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY - MALTA  TEL: (+356) 27565262    © GOZO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 2009 - 2010