BNF U15 and U17 Leagues Review: Valletta and Mosta secure wins to go joint top

BNF U15 League B – Matchday 18

There were two games from the BNF U15 League B over the weekend, with two encounters in the Play-Out section.

Neither side had anything to play for, given that Marsaskala FC and Lija Athletic FC had already avoided relegation, with Attard FC and Rabat Ajax FC both going down.

Marsaskala secured a commanding 2-0 win over Lija to confirm their place at the top of the Play-Out section. After a rather tight first half, neither side could find a way through the opposition backline.

In the second half, Marsaskala really asserted their dominance, and they got the breakthrough in the 58th minute thanks to a fine strike from Juan Vella. Lija tried to get themselves back in the game, but they were dealt a massive blow in the 68th minute when Marsaskala were awarded a penalty. Dale Pace Borda was entrusted to take the spot-kick, and he made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net to make it 2-0. Marsaskala saw out the rest of the game, coming away as 2-0 winners.

Elsewhere, Rabat Ajax FC secured a relatively comfortable 3-0 win against Attard FC.

Rabat started strong, and they took the lead after just 19 minutes thanks to a strike from Bradley Borg. Attard found it difficult to get in the game, and the Magpies doubled their advantage in the 50th minute, with Denzel Pisani getting his name on the scoresheet. Rabat continued to push forward in search of another goal, and they got it in the 88th minute through Filippo Aleandro Torres Camilleri, whose strike made it 3-0, sealing the victory.

BNF U17 League A – Matchday 16

In the BNF U17 League A title race, there was a dramatic twist, as Pietà Hotspurs FC fell to a stunning defeat at the hands of Sliema Wanderers FC, allowing challengers Mosta FC and Valletta FC to leapfrog them in the table.

The encounter between Sliema and Pietà was tight from the very start, with neither team really seizing control of the match in the opening stages.

Sliema got the breakthrough in the 51st minute, when Samer Yahia found a moment of space, stroking the ball into the back of the net. Pietà looked to respond, and after applying some pressure, they got their equaliser a few minutes later through Gianluca Camilleri. However, there was a final twist in the match, as the Wanderers broke through the Hotspurs’ defence again, and they found a dramatic winner in the 83rd minute, as Thomas Scerri Worley fired Sliema ahead. Pietà tried to get themselves back into it, but they eventually ran out of time and Sliema came away as 2-1 winners.

This opened the door to Mosta to go top of the table, and they did just that, beating Floriana FC 5-1 after an impressive display at Dingli Ground.

They were on the front foot straightaway, and the Blues needed just four minutes to go in front, with Ryan Debono getting his name on the scoresheet. The Mosta midfielder doubled his side’s lead in the 37th minute, before Francois Micallef also scored to make it 3-0, giving Mosta a clear advantage going into the second half. The Blues continued pushing after the break, and Luca Chetcuti made it 4-0 in the 70th minute, before scoring again eight minutes later to extend their lead to five goals. Floriana eventually got a goal back in the 82nd minute, but it proved to be just a consolation, with Mosta emerging 5-1 winners.

They were not the only side to capitalise from Pietà’s slip-up, as Valletta secured a resounding 5-0 win over Hamrun Spartans FC, essentially ending the Spartans’ slim hopes of mounting a title charge.

Valletta showed their attacking qualities straight away, threatening the Hamrun backline immediately. Miguel Camilleri put Valletta in front after 39 minutes, before he doubled the Lilywhites’ lead five minutes later. Valletta remained dangerous whenever they went forward, with Kayden Farrugia and Mattiaz Ancilleri both scoring almost immediately after the restart. Luke Ciantar got in on the goalscoring action late in the game to secure the 5-0 win.

As a result, Mosta and Valletta are now joint-top with 35 points, with the Blues ahead on goal difference. Pietà have dropped down to third with 33 points, while Hamrun are on 27 points.

BNF U17 League B – Matchday 16

In the BNF U17 League B, Birkirkara FC recorded a vital win over Zabbar St Patrick FC to edge ever closer to securing promotion to the top tier for next season.

Birkirkara started the match, being played at the St Patrick Ground, on the front foot, and they were two goals up inside the opening seven minutes, when Luca Castagna scored a quickfire brace to put the Stripes comfortably in front against Zabbar. The Saints tried to respond, but Birkirkara’s attack was on top form on the day, and Iker Felice made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute. While Zabbar momentarily regrouped, even getting a goal back in the 49th minute thanks to a penalty from Dejan Sant, Birkirkara ultimately proved too strong, and Felice restored their three-goal lead in the 63rd minute, before getting another goal almost immediately after to secure his hat-trick. Sheride Bugeja Farrugia scored right before the full-time whistle to make it 6-1 to Birkirkara.

As a result, Birkirkara are now just one win away from joining Hibernians FC in the top tier next season, with the gap between the Stripes and Zabbar now being widened to seven points.

There were also a couple of crucial results in the Play-Out section, as Gozo FC beat Marsaskala FC 2-0 to move out of the relegation zone, as the race for safety continues to heat up.

After a very tight start, neither side could really find the back of the net in the first half. It was in the second half that Gozo really came to life, and in the 56th minute, Andre Azzopardi found a rare moment of space, before striking the ball past goalkeeper Carl Mallia to give the Gozitans the advantage. 20 minutes later, Gozo scored again, this time through Josef Xerri who had come on just a few minutes before. Marsaskala pushed in order to get back in the game, but Gozo saw out the result and got all three points.

The win was made all the more important for Gozo by the fact that Kirkop United held Mellieha SC to a draw.

Mellieha went in front after nine minutes, with Lydon Luke Bartolo firing them ahead. Kirkop responded 20 minutes later, when they were awarded a penalty. Nathan Micallef stepped up to take it, and he made no mistake, equalising for the Reds. Micallef turned the game around for Kirkop only two minutes later, with a fine finish to put it past Haiden Julian Buttigieg. Kirkop remained ahead for large parts of the game, but with them seemingly heading for the win, Mellieha found a rare moment of space, with Kaylon Castillo then on hand to finish the move off, scoring in the 89th minute.

As a result, Kirkop are now on 18 points, with Gozo on 15, Mellieha on 14, and Marsaskala on 12 points.

For the full results and table standings, check out the matchcentre.