FINAL SCORE SERVES NONE

D. Pace, P. Spiteri (M. Bezzina) , F. Debono, A. Debono, P. Buttigieg, M. Azzopardi, B. Njoku, D. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg (N.Micallef), E. Grima (M. Mifsud), A. Portelli.

M. Aquilina, D. Galea (J. Galea), D. Borg, R. Debatistta, M. Mercieca, C. Vella, C. Zammit, C. Farrugia (D. Mamo), A. Spiteri, D. Cremona, S. Vella.

  The clash between the two sides occupying the bottom place on the table ended in a draw of two goals.  The point obtained by Gozo and Gharghur does not serve the purpose of the two sides to re-open their chances to challenge against relegation.  The final score is just as each side prevailed over the opponent for a half each.

  Play was quite balanced during the early stages.  After four minutes of play Gozo’s Anthony Portelli had a header from a corner kick by Frank Debono that ended just wide.  On e minute later Gharghur replied with a counter break but goalie Darren Pace blocked well on Shaun Vella.  On 7 minutes Gozo’s Anthony Portelli went again close to scoring but his header from a cross by Benneth Njoku ended over the crossbar.  As time passed by the visitors gained command of play and kept Gozo’s rearguard under pressure.  On 12 minutes Gharghur were dangerous through two consecutive shots by Shaun Vella and Christopher Vella that were blocked by the defense and from the resultant melee Daniel Cremona’s strike was deflected in corner by Peter Buttigieg.  Five minutes later an effort by Shaun Vella was blocked by the defense and on 23 minutes the same Vella had a good shot saved by goalie Darren Pace.  Three minutes later Gharghur’s Daniel Cremona won a ball in Gozo’s area and from his pass Clint Farrugia had a shot on the run that ended wide.  Gharghur opened the score on 32 minutes.  Gozo’s rearguard failed to clear a cross by Shaun Vella and Alan Spiteri took the loose ball and guided it in goal from close distance.  The visitors continued to dictate matters and could have increased the lead.  Goalie Darren Pace turned in corner a strike by Daniel cremona and from the same corner kick by Alan Spiteri goalie Pace saved with difficulty a header by Shaun Vella.

  Gozo came out more aggressive after the break and leveled the score after just four minutes of play.  Gharghur’s rearguard was surprised following a free kick by Paul Spiteri and from the resultant melee Anthony Portelli deposited in goal from close distance.  Gharghur had an immediate reaction and on 52 minutes Alan Spiteri headed incredibly wide from close distance following a cross from the flank.  On the hour of play Alan Spiteri lifted over the crossbar an inviting cross by substitute Jonathan Galea.  One minute later the same Galea saved his goal when he cleared off the line a header by Errol Grima from a corner kick by Paul Spiteri.  On 65 minutes Gharghur’s goalie Mark Aquilina saved in two attempts a low shot by Anthony Portelli and one minute later the same Portelli failed to conclude from an ideal position after receiving from Errol Grima.  On 68 minutes a header by Anthony Portelli was saved with difficulty by goalie Aquilina and ten minutes later Gozo were again dangerous but Errol Grima failed to conclude in goal after passing past goalie Aquilina so that the defense cleared the danger.  In the 89th minute Gozo ended up with ten players when Anthony Portelli was sent off for retaliation