Late goal save the day for St Andrews – ARTICLE BY VICTOR CIANGURA, PHOTO SUPPLIED BY OUR OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER, STEPHEN GATT.

30 Oct Late goal save the day for St Andrews – ARTICLE BY VICTOR CIANGURA, PHOTO SUPPLIED BY OUR OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER, STEPHEN GATT.

The information, choice of match and views set out in report  are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Youth FA.

Under 15 Section A

St Andrew  1     San Ġwann  1

This game was shorn of shots at goal. St Andrew enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the game and kept the San Ġwann defenders very busy while their forwards tried to operate on the break. St Andrew saved the day with a late goal after being a goal down early in the first period.

St Andrew created the first action as Eman Spiteri was fouled on the right flank and from the same player’s free kick the ball was cleared away.

San Ġwann opened the score in the 4th minute when hey won a corner kick on the right flank which was taken by Jake Micallef and as his high cross created havoc in the area Benjamin Hili scored with a hard drive past St Andrew keeper Kyle Barbara.

This early set-back served as a boost for St Andrew as the created all the actions in the first period. Zane Falzon dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and following his cross in the area the ball was headed away. Matthias Pace was fouled outside the area, Alexander Spiteri served Kane Arpa with a short  pass on the right flank from the free kick who then crossed the ball in the area but found no takers to apply the killer touch.

Falzon was fouled on the left edge of the area and the ball was headed away after the free kick by Spiteri. Spiteri then dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and following his high cross in the area the ball was headed away with difficulty.

James Pace released Arpa on the right flank and after his high cross in the area San Ġwann keeper Joel Micallef neutralised the ball with a diving save in two attempts and in the last action before the break James Pace crossed the ball in the area from the right flank and after it was partly cleared outside the area the rebound shot by Alexander Spiteri was cleared to a corner.

The second period was dominated by St Andrew. Nicholas Galea dribbled past an opponent on the left flank and following his low cross in the area Micallef neutralised the ball. Mattias Ellul served Falzon on the left flank ans after crossing the ball in the area Spiteri had a shot blocked by a defender. Falzon was trhen fouled outside the area and Spiteri missed the bar by inches from the free kick.

Nicholas Galea was fouled outside the area and Ellul missed the upright from the free kick. Falzon released Ellul on the left flank who after entering the area Micallef foiled him as he dived at his feet and smothered the ball.

Eight minutes before the end of normal time St Andrew obtained a deserved equaliser. Ellul dribbled past an opponent on the left flank and following his high cross in the area Galea scored with a header.

Two more actions were then created by St andrew before the final whistle. Substitute Nicholas Mifsud was fouled on the left flank and after the free kick y Falzon, Micallef saved a header by Spiteri and Falzon released substitute Timothy Zammit Lupi in the area and Micallef foiled him as he dived at his feet to smother the ball.

St Andrew:  K.Barbara, K.Arpa, M.Gatt, M.ellul, A.Apap Bologna, Z.Falzon, N.Galea, A.Spiteri (Capt), M.Pace, J.Pace, A.Borg.

San Ġwann: J.Micallef, K.Debono, J.J.Carbone, I.Spiteri, J.Micallef (Capt), M.Micallef, M.Tanti, B.Hili, E.Spiteri, M.Fenech, M.Ebejer

Player of the match: Zane Falzon (St Andrew)

Referee: Ray Tabone