Xaghra United: 2 (M. Bezzina 15’, J. Scerri 87’)
M. Vella, M. Azzopardi, S. Sultana, J. Bartolo (V.J. Saliba), M. Buhagiar, M. Bezzina (J. Scerri), S.F. Bajada, J. Xerri (D. Bartolo), A. Farrugia, M. Scerri, E. Nkwocha.

Leaders Xewkija Tigers registered a handsome win over Xaghra United in the first match of the fourteenth day of the championship.  The Tigers found some resistance from their opponents for the first hour of play as Xaghra were struggling to score their second equalizer.  However, as Xewkija scored the third goal Xaghra were demoralized and there was no doubts lefct about the destination of the full points at stake.  The protagonists of the match were striker John Camilleri, who scored a hat-trick, and Mark Camilleri who scored a brace.  The other goal by Xewkija was scored through substitute Josmar Vella.

Xewkija had an excellent start and opened the score in the fifth minute of play through a fine header by Mark Camilleri following a cross by Manwel Xerri.  In the 9th minute Xewkija could have doubled the score when Chris Camilleri released John Camilleri in the area but the latter saw his angled shot ended just wide.  Xaghra recovered from the shock and in the 12th minute Xewkija’s goalie was called to make a difficult save to turn in corner a strike by Michael Bezzina.  Xaghra leveled the score three minutes later when Ejo Nkwocha released Michael Bezzina in the area following a move by Joseph Bartolo and Michael Bezzina netted with a low drive.  However, Xewkija regained the lead on 23 minutes when Frank Lee Galea’s through pass arrived to John Camilleri who placed in goal despite Matthew Vella’s attempt to block the danger.  Xaghra tried to produce a reaction but the closest they went to scoring was through a free kick by Ejo Nkwocha and a shot by Michael Bezzina but in both cases goalie Adrian Parnis was well placed and neutralized the danger.

The Blues tried to push more men forward after the break but they ended up suffering continuous fast breaks from their opponents. In the 47th minute Xewkija’s John Camilleri concluded badly from a good position and on 55 minutes it was goalie Matthew Vella who went out of his position to clear the ball off the same Camilleri who was alone in the area.  Xewkija increased their lead on 65 minutes through a close ranged header byMark Camilleri following a free kick by Chris Camilleri and eight minutes later the Tigers made it 4-1 throughJohn Camilleri who placed into an empty goal following a misunderstanding between goalie Matthew Vella and central defender Mario Azzopardi.  On 82 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Matthew Vella made a good intervention to block an attempt by Chris Camilleri following a personal action and one minute later substituteJosmar Vella headed in goal from close distance to make the score 5-1 following a free kick by Chris Camilleri.  Xaghra scored their second goal on 87 minutes through a long ranged strike by substitute Joseph Scerri andJohn Camilleri made the final score 6-2 in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a low drive following a personal action.

Referee:Clayton Pisani

Match Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151411081000294.831638.478699430293&type=1

Match Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151350044920294.822566.478699430293&type=1

Nadur Youngsters: 3 (C. Antunes 19’, J. Vella 24’, M. Stojanovic 40’)
M. Muscat, B. Meilak, P. Camilleri (R. Meilaq), C. Mercieca, A. Simoncic (J. Meilaq), J. Vella, S. Attard, C. Hili, C. Antunes, A. Portelli, M. Stojanovic.

Nadur Youngsters regained sole leadership with three points obtained from their match against Xaghra United.  This encounter was the last match from the tenth day of the championship.  The victory for Nadur matured with a fine performance during the first hour of the match as they opened a comfortable three goal lead.  However, they suffered Xaghra’s reaction and were forced to suffer until the final whistle to enjoy the victory.  Nadur’s debutant Joseph Vella, ex-SK Victoria Wanderers, also marked his first match for the title contenders with a goal.  Xaghra seemed timid during the first hour of play but gained confidence as they scored their first goal so that they also managed to re-open their chances to save the result with a determined performance during the last part of the match so that the final score remained uncertain until the end.

The match had a fast start where the two teams came out in search of an early goal.  In the fourth minute of play Nadur’s skipper Anthony Portelli had a good attempt that was well saved by goalie Matthew Vella and Xaghra replied one minute later through a strike by Thiago Dos Santos that ended just wide.  In the 7th minute an attempt by Claudio Antunes missed the target.  Nadur opened the score on 19 minutes.  Milos Stojanovic released Claudio Antunes on the right flank, the Brazilian striker entered the area and netted with a low drive as goalie Vella went out of his position.  Five minutes later the Youngsters doubled the score asJoseph Vella exchanged the ball with Milos Stojanovic and placed in goal with a low shot.  Xaghra replied with a shot by Ejo Nkwocha that missed the target and a free kick by Thiago Dos Santos that was neutralized by goalie Matthew Muscat.  On 37 Nadur’s Joseph Vella had an attempt form outside the area that ended high.  Nadur increased their lead on 40 minutes through a close ranged header by Milos Stojanovic following a cross by Anthony Portelli.  Just before half time a shot by Nadur’s Anthony Portelli following a fine move by Claudio Antunes ended wide.

Nadur could have scored another goal after twenty seconds of play of the second period when Anthony Portelli entered the area with a personal action but had his shot saved in corner by goalie Matthew Vella.  Xaghra reduced the deficit to two goals on 58 minutes.  Michael Bezzina entered the area with a personal action and netted easily with a low drive.  On 62 minutes Nadur were dangerous through a header by Saviour Attard from a corner kick by Alex Simoncic that ended just wide.  Two minutes later Xaghra went again close to scoring when a cross by substitute Daniel Attard arrived to an unmarked Daniel Bartolo, who came on the field as a substitute, but goalie Matthew Muscat saved the danger with a fine intervention.  Less than a minute later Nadur’s rearguard had a moment of hesitation and Joseph Xerri came face to face with the goalkeeper but the Xaghra midfielder concluded incredibly wide.  On 66 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Matthew Vella kept his side in contention with a fine save following an effort by Joseph Vella and in the following action Nadur’s goalie Matthew Muscat made a similar save to block the danger following an effort by Michael Bezzina.

Xaghra managed to score their second goal on 73 minutes.  Thiago Dos Santos entered the area with a personal action and netted easily behind goalie Matthew Muscat.  The match now became open to any result but on 82 minutes Nadur could have regained a two-goal lead when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by goalie Matthew Vella on Joseph Vella but the goalkeeper made up for his mistake as he saved Claudio Antunes’ shot from the spot kick.  On 87 minutes Xaghra were dangerous through a direct free kick by Thiago Dos Santos that ended just high and minutes later Nadur’s Claudio Antunes had an angled shot that missed the target.  Nadur almost compromised their efforts as they were reduced to ten players in the second minute of stoppage time when Charles Mercieca was sent off for remarks to the assistant referee.  However, during the remaining minutes of play Nadur controlled play and defended the one goal lead until the final whistle.

Referee: Paul Apap

Match Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151265209040294.812494.478699430293

Xaghra United: 4 (E. Nkwocha 35’, M. Bezzina 41’, 49’; T. Dos Santos 44’)
M. Vella, M. Azzopardi, S. Sultana, J. Bartolo, M. Bezzina, M. Buhagiar, J. Xerri, A. Farrugia (V.J. Saliba), M. Scerri, T. Dos Santos, E. Nkwocha.

Xaghra United obtained a close win over bottom placed Ghajnsielem so that they gained a place on the table at the expense of SK Victoria Wanderers.  Xaghra dominated the match for an hour of the match but also compromised their efforts as Ghajnsielem produced a good reaction with three goals scored in the space of five minutes.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Match Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151204783115294.804861.478699430293&type=1