BNF U15 and U17 Leagues Review MD2: Melita respond with resounding win, Valletta and Mosta produce commanding displays

Photos by Timmy Cutugno

The second matchday of the 2024/25 BNF U15 and U17 Leagues took place over the weekend, presenting plenty of action in Sections A and B.

U15 League A

Hibernians continued their excellent start to the season, following up their 3-0 win over San Ġwann in the opening matchday with a convincing 6-2 victory against Ħamrun Spartans.

Aiden Tonna got Hibs going with a goal in the 16th minute, yet their lead lasted only three minutes, as Matthew Higgans fired home his second goal of the season to draw Ħamrun level.

However, Hibernians responded in style with a flurry of goals, with Jayden Roe scoring a brace and Kenzil Vella adding to the tally, giving Hibs a 4-1 lead in the space of six minutes. Matteo Mangion then momentarily reduced the deficit, yet Kirsten Camilleri then came off the bench and made an instant impact, scoring the final two goals for the side from Paola.

Hibernians were not the only side to make it two wins out of two, as Pieta' Hotspurs and Valletta also got wins against Fgura United and San Ġwann, respectively.

Pieta' looked to be in a spot of bother early on against Fgura, as Dale Pulis Bonello put the Reds in front after just five minutes. However, Pieta' held their own and found an equaliser just moments later through Giorgio Cristauro.

It was in the second half that Pieta' really made the game their own, as Nathan Micallef put them ahead in the 55th minute, before Nathan Grech scored twice in the space of two minutes to complete a 4-1 win for the Hotspurs.

Elsewhere, Valletta produced a resolute performance, scoring three while also shutting out San Ġwann completely.

Valletta could not break the opposing defence down until the 37th minute, when Kayden Hili opened the scoring. San Ġwann's Adam Miceli then unfortunately put the ball into his own net for an own goal to make it two. To make it worse for the Saints, goalkeeper Mikhail Mangion was sent off in the 78th minute, and Valletta quickly made full use of their numerical advantage, as Andvic Inguanez, who had come on earlier in the game, made it 3-0.

Melita 1-3 Mosta at Melita Ground

U15 League B

While last week there were not many goals in the League B, it was the complete opposite this time around, with a total of 21 goals across the five games played.

Naxxar Lions stole the show with a resounding 6-0 win away to Kirkop United to get their first three points of the season.

Hatem Shannah scored the opener 13 minutes in, before Kaydil Mangion quickly made it 3-0 with two goals in the space of eight minutes. Shannah grabbed his second of the game later on, while captain Luca Farrugia also added to the scoring. Kai Theuma came off the bench and scored to wrap up a comfortable win for Naxxar.

Balzan's attack was also on top form last weekend, as they got a convincing 5-0 win against Gozo, a brilliant response to their disappointing loss against Rabat Ajax in the opening matchday.

Captain Zachary Arab Chetcuti was on target to put Balzan ahead, and his goal was then followed up by strikes from Luca Sciberras and Kairon Micallef just a few minutes later. Sciberras scored his second in the 55th minute, before Zeone Brincat made it five.

Attard, who kicked off their season last time out with a brilliant 5-1 win over Kirkop United, made it six points from two games as they edged past Żabbar St Patrick to remain top of the league on goal difference.

The two goals for Attard came very early on, as Jake Azzopardi and Kluivert Debono scored in the fifth and 15th minutes, respectively. Following that, Żabbar pushed on in the hope of finding a goal to get them back in the game, but it was ultimately not enough, and Attard ran out as 2-0 winners.

U17 League A

Melita fought back from their disappointing 3-0 loss to Pieta' Hotspurs in the opening matchday with a brilliant attacking display at Melita Ground on Sunday, beating Fgura United 6-2.

Matteo Paolo Grech set the game alight in the first 31 minutes, scoring a sensational hat-trick to put his side 3-0 up. Steven John Attard then scored to make it four in the 44th minute. Later on in the game, Melita were awarded two penalties, one in the 60th minute and another in the 66th, which captain Daniel Pawley and Andrew St John respectively calmly dispatched.

Melita 6-2 Fgura United at Melita Ground

However, Melita then took their foot off the pedal in the closing stages of the game, and Fgura scored two goals of their own thanks to Daikin Tonna and Alexander Grima, yet it was not enough and the game finished 6-2.

Reigning champions Floriana continued their shocking start to the season, as they remain without a point after falling to a 3-1 loss against Mosta.

The game was very close right from the very start, yet when Mosta were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute, Ryan Debono made no mistake. Despite this, Florana were given a penalty of their own just 10 minutes later, and Zyas Vella Newell quickly equalised. The encounter remained at a deadlock for some time, before Neil Vella and Kelden Pace popped up with crucial goals that got the job done for the Blues.

Valletta maintained their momentum, triumphing 3-1 away to Hibernians to continue their perfect start to the season.

After an eventful start to the game, highlighted by Liam Buhagiar scoring after just five minutes, the encounter was then characterised by a tough midfield battle between two sides who had impressed in the first matchday. It took Hibs all the way to the 59th minute to find an equaliser thanks to William Onyekachi, yet it only lasted three minutes, as Emerson Mejlak quickly restored Valletta's lead. Axel Abela Dingli then scored to make it 3-1. Hibs thought they had found a route back into the game when they were awarded a very late penalty, yet Daniel Mangion failed to capitalise.

U17 League B

In Section B, San Ġwann made it back-to-back wins to remain top of the table, beating Kirkop United 3-1 at St Patrick Ground.

Miguel Farrugia scored a brace to put his side 2-0 up, with his goals coming in the 11th and 33rd minutes. Nathan Muscat scored in the 51st minute to offer San Ġwann a route back into the game. However, it was ultimately to no avail as Kieran Demanuele, who had come off the bench to score twice last time out against Qormi, was once again on target after being subbed on, scoring just 10 minutes after coming off the bench.

Gozo got the win of the matchday in the division, putting Mġarr United, who were coming off the back of an impressive win against Pembroke Athleta last time out, to the sword with a 7-0 victory.

Gabriel Xerri scored just 13 minutes into the game, before Noel Rados made it three with two quickfire goals in the 40th and 45th minutes. Following that, Luka Haber, Justin Cardona, Ethan Refalo, and Emanuel Bennici all scored to round off a sensational victory for the team who only came up to the division last season.

For the full results and table standings, access the match centre by clicking here.