Mgarr beat Mtarfa to clinch 2023/24 Amateur League title

IZIBET NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF
20.04. 2024, Centenary Stadium
Mtarfa 0-2 Mgarr United

On Saturday afternoon, the 2023/24 National Amateur League Championship issue was decided with the Play-Off between both group winners, Mtarfa and Mgarr United. Both teams played out a delightful encounter, an absolute joy to watch with eventually Mgarr being worthy winners, despite Mtarfa’s second half dominance.

The first half was an even contest with both teams sharing the exchanges. On 11 minutes, Mgarr custodian Jacob Chircop St John made a splendid save on a close-range Dasser Sammut attempt, served by a Melvin Busuttil free-kick. On 22 minutes, Mtarfa were awarded a penalty when the referee saw a foul in the box from Julian Camilleri on Gabriele Mannino. Kurt Borg however failed to convert, as his spotkick ended up against the post, with Chircop St John eventually saving.

Just after the half hour mark, Nicholas Schembri crossed towards Christian Saint Ebisindor from the right flank, but the Nigerian striker came inches short of connecting in what could have meant the opener for Mgarr. On the stroke of half-time, Andrea Azzopardi fouled Jurgen Suda in the area, a clear penalty which was duly converted by the same Suda to send Mgarr with a one-goal advantage into the dressing rooms.

The match continued to entertain after the change of ends, with Mtarfa most definitely having the better re-start, pushing Mgarr back into their own half. On 56 minutes, Borg St John was called back into action to block a Borg grounder for a corner. From the resultant corner-kick, Mgarr cleared but the ball fell into the path of the unmarked Azzopardi who blasted high from the edge of the box. Six minutes later, the Mgarr custodian did again well to block a Gianfranco Micallef attempt, while from the counter-attack, Saint Ebisindor found his way through the Mtarfa defence, rounding goalkeeper Dunstan Zarb but Dylan-Douglas Camilleri saved on the goal-line with an excellent effort.

Mtarfa kept on insisting all on attack but remained rather ineffective up front, much to the credit of the Mgarr rear-guard. Four minutes into stoppage time, Mgarr scored the relieving second goal when Suda released Saint Ebisindor, beating Zarb with a grounder to double for the Northerners.

After the match, the medals were handed over to both sets of players by MFA Vice-President Matthew Paris and IZIBET Brand Manager James Morgan, while the Championship Trophy was handed over to Mgarr United evergreens Clayton Borg and Joseph Paul Zammit. 

Images copyright Joe Borg