Msida take giant step towards direct promotion to Challenge League

IZIBET NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE REVIEW
GROUP A
Xghajra Tornados 1-2 Senglea Athletic
On Friday night, Senglea Athletic maintained their leadership in Group A of the National Amateur League, beating Xghajra Tornados by the odd goal in three, their eight consecutive league victory. It was not an easy outing for the Cottonera side, who had to endure a tenacious Tornados side who were unlucky not to get a point from this match.
Timmy Thomas put Senglea ahead on the 22nd minute after his grounder beat Xghajra goalkeeper Miguel Abela, his 15th already of the season. Six minutes from the end of the first half, Sebastian Perdomo doubled the score with a powerful shot.
Xghajra captain Aidan Agius Gilford converted a penalty to reduce the gap eight minutes in the second half. The Greens pushed for more but were not rewarded in the end. Deep into stoppage time, Senglea’s Steve Meilak received a second yellow card for delaying the re-start.
Senglea remain first in the table with 46 points and still have a five-point gap over Zabbar St Patrick, who however have a game in hand, also keeping in mind both teams will meet in the penultimate round of this season’s Amateur League. Mgarr are third on 38 points, also with a game in hand, which means the Northerners are also fully involved in the race for the honours.

Ta’ Xbiex 0-6 Zabbar St Patrick
As expected, this was a very one-sided match, although it took Zabbar some time to settle down with scoring just a solitary goal in the first half. After the break, with the Blacks tiring out, Zabbar added five more to make the score line more realistically.
It took St Patrick 35 minutes to find the net when Rowad Benhamed rounded off a precise pass by Kenneth Aqulina. Before and after this goal, Ta’ Xbiex goalkeeper Matthew Schembri made some splendid saves on attempts by Kurt and Nick Borg.
Mark Miller’s half-time speech must have been an impressive one as Zabbar came out of the dressing room as a different team. In the first minute from the re-start, a shot from outside the box by Brendan Scerri sailed just high of the crossbar. But not much later, the second goal for St Patrick arrived when Nick Borg beat Schembri after a pass by Timothy Tabone Desira. In a rare Ta’ Xbiex attack, Zabbar custodian Jonathan Grech saved Andre Mallia’s attempt. Zabbar added their third in the 55th minute thanks to Kurt Borg, who saw another attempt hit the woodwork barely a minute later. Late in the match, the Yellows scored three goals in the span of three minutes. In the 84th minute, substitute Jean-Claude Galea added Zabbar’s fourth, his first ever official senior goal after more then 100 senior appearances. Two minutes later, Nick Borg rounded off perfectly after his fine dribble through the heart of the Ta’ Xbiex defence and one minute later, substitute Alejandro Brincat scored Zabbar’s sixth after receiving the ball from Nick Borg, whose low shot beat Schembri. 

Santa Venera Lightnings 1-6 Mgarr United
Third-placed Mgarr United came from behind to obtain their fifth consecutive win, keeping the pressure on Senglea and St Patrick in this breath-taking three-horse race for direct promotion. The team of coach Jason Camenzuli scored no less then 21 goals during these five games, including six against Santa Venera last Friday. Nigerian striker Christian Saint Ebisindor scored a late hattrick in this game, overtaking Thomas to climb to the top of the NAL Top Scorers list with 16 goals.
After Jurgen Grech and Saint Ebisindor came close to break the deadlock, the first goal of the match was surprisingly for the Lightnings, thanks to a wonderful strike by Yuya Emura on 15 minutes, who scored with an intelligent, well-placed curling shot. But before half-time, Mgarr transformed their dominance into goals with Julian Camilleri heading low past Clyde Aquilina from a Grech corner on 21 minutes and on 34 minutes, Clayton Borg put his side ahead with another close-range header. Just before half-time, Matthew Attard could have added a third for Mgarr by hitting the upright with a low shot.
Mgarr added four more goals after the break with the match developing into a no-contest. In the 53rd minute, Liam Portelli scored with an orthodox shot from the right side of the box to increase his side’s lead. Top Scorer Saint Ebisindor did not hit target yet but this all changed in the latter part of the game when he scored three on 71, 83 and 93 minutes, the last one from a penalty.

Mellieha 1-0 Birzebbuga St Peter’s
With a goal early in the game, Mellieha surprised St Peter’s on Saturday night at the Luxol Stadium. The Northerners are out of the running for a Play-Off spot, but still managed beat the number four in the standings who, despite this defeat, can slowly start preparing for these Play-Offs. Although Xghajra still mathematically have a chance to qualify for this season’s desert, it looks highly unlikely that Birzebbuga will give away their advantage towards both Kalkara and the Tornados.
On 14 minutes, Malcolm Vella-Vidal scored what proved to be the winning goal with a fine header from a free-kick action. Birzebbuga tried hard to equalise and came close on the brink of half-time, when striker Andrely Makela hit the crossbar.
The team of coach Paul Camilleri continued to show the better ideas after lemon time and on the hour, Makela was again unlucky, hitting the woodwork for the second time in the match. To make it even worse for the Frenchman, he hit the post on 75 minutes, admitting it was clearly not his day. On the stroke of full-time, Kane Tippett could have snatched an equaliser for the Saints, but his efforts scraped the post.

Kalkara United 2-1 Qormi
Edward Azzopardi’s Kalkara had to work hard to turn around an early setback against Qormi, who on their turn were fighting for the last chance to save their season. With two quick goals after the hour, the Greens remain on course for a Play-Off berth, with now only one competitor left; Xghajra Tornados. Qormi are now most definitely out of the race for a final top 5 spot.
Kyle Azzopardi could have given Kalkara an early lead in the very first attack of the match, but Qormi goalkeeper Miguel Falzon saved his goal attempt in style. On the other side however, with 10 minutes played on the clock, Mattias Formosa drilled the ball behind Mario Bartolo from a short corner. Qormi could have extended their lead on several occasions during the first half but both teams went into the dressing rooms with a one nil Qormi lead.
After the break, Clayton Vella’s attempt for Qormi was cleared from the line and not much later there was a similar action on the other side, with Vadim Gulceac’ attempt being cleared from the fatal line by a Qormi defender. On the hour, Kalkara equalised thanks to a great volley by Luke Farrugia and four minutes later, Kalkara turned the match into their favour with a second goal, a lucky one as Qormi defender Nathan Gauci, in an attempt to clear the danger, blasted the ball in his own goal. Qormi were stunned but tried to get the equaliser, with Bartolo distinguishing himself with a number of useful saves.

GROUP B
Rabat Ajax 1-3 Msida St Joseph
In the match of the week in Group B, Msida St Joseph made a giant step closer to promotion as they defeated Rabat Ajax 3-1 to go eight points clear. After making several attempts the past seasons, everything seems to fall in place this time around for the Reds who, after another shaky start of the season, have developed themselves as the best team in this section.
Msida went close with a Ryan Dalli effort from outside the area which ended just over the bar on six minutes and five minutes later, Rabat replied with a shot by Andy Paul Camilleri from the right which ended just wide. The Saints took the lead on 13 minutes thanks to a Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza diagonal shot from the left which beat goalkeeper Dean Sciberras. Eleven minutes later, Kevin Sammut doubled the score for Msida, beating the Rabat goalkeeper with a low shot from inside the area after intercepting a short clearance. Rabat managed to compose themselves and although they were now enjoying the initiative, it was only three minutes from the end of the first half that they had a good attempt thanks to Nobukatsu Tsuchiya whose lob was parried by Andre Spiteri.
Three minutes in the second half, Rabat pulled one back when off an assist by Kane Micallef from the right, substitute Ian Caruana hit home from close range. Msida hit back with a fierce shot by Russell Vella which was parried by Sciberras on 55 minutes and three minutes later, Kurt Camilleri hit just wide with a direct freekick. Following another Camilleri freekick, a header by Joseph Caruana was parried by Spiteri on 59 minutes and on the hour, Msida were unlucky to hit the upright with an angled shot by Vella. Veteran Mifsud Triganza caught Sciberras out of place but the Rabat custodian managed to turn his lob into a corner on 67 minutes. However, three minutes later, Msida sealed victory thanks to a well-timed Mark Camilleri header from a Vella corner.
Msida need only one win from the last three matches, with Mdina Knights, Dingli Swallows and Siggiewi as opponents, to seal direct promotion to the 2023/24 Challenge League.

Luqa St Andrew’s 1-0 Siggiewi
With Rabat losing the points against Msida, Luqa St Andrews moved second in this group after seeing off Siggiewi 1-0. Rabat and Luqa are both on 28 points but the goal average of the original St Andrew’s is slightly better then that of the Magpies. Quite interestingly, both teams meet each other on the very last match day in this section.
It was a drab encounter with both teams mostly cancelling each other especially in the first half where occasions on goal were a rarity.
In the second half, Luqa St Andrews were better and were unlucky to hit the post on 80 minutes after Lucky Nwaogu's close range shot. The prolific striker was luckier three minutes afterwards as he advanced from the left flank and hit a grounder that beat Bulgarian Siggiewi goalkeeper Nikola Stojanovic. In the very end, Siggiewi had a goal disallowed after an offside infringement.

Dingli Swallows 1-1 Gharghur
On Saturday night, Stefan Barbara’s Dingli Swallows produced a shock result against promotion hopefuls Gharghur. An unexpected draw, only the eight point for Dingli this season, which seriously hampered Gharghur’s direct promotion chances as they would have jumped over Rabat and Luqa into second place with a victory.
Early on it was apparent that Gharghur were going to be the team which controlled the tempo of the game, whilst Dingli were looking to play on the counter, using their fast strikers up front.
The Swallows took the lead in the 21st minute when Cachel Vella lobbed the ball over Andrew Zammit after taking advantage of a sloppy back pass from Matthew Borda. Gharghur reacted and on 39 minutes, Robert Ciantar’s lob from outside the box was denied by the crossbar. Four minutes later, Erik Pietribiasi’s effort following a corner went just wide.
More of the same after the break, Gharghur attacking with Dingli being dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 69th minute, Gharghur were once again denied by the woodwork when Jayden Aquilina’s left footed shot rattled the crossbar. However, Gharghur’s persistence paid off when six minutes later, Jurgen Gerada scored with a tap in after Aquilina hit the bar once more. The end of the game was a cagey affair, as Dingli had Daniele Marsala sent off with a second yellow in the 88th minute.

Ghaxaq 0-1 Kirkop United
A Dale Tabone first half strike was enough for Kirkop to maintain their hopes for a Play-Off spot, consolidating their fifth spot in the ranking. The team produced a solid performance against Ghaxaq, who’s second consecutive defeat means they are practically out of the running for a Play-Off berth.
Ghaxaq started well and in the tenth minute, a free kick by Dusan Petrovic sailed millimetres wide. Not much later, it was Kirkop who took the lead in their first real attack of the match, a goal which decided the match. A long distance shot by Lincoln Micallef hit the post, with the ball falling into the feet of Tabone who converted from close range. Three minutes later, Isaac Abela volleyed wide from a Jamie Mifsud cross. Three minutes from half-time, a cross shot by Ghaxaq’s Clint Barbara, who started the season with Kirkop, hit the post.
Surprisingly, the first part of the second half was completely uneventful, with the first goalmouth incident arriving in the 71st minute, after a shot by Micallef was saved by Ghaxaq custodian Leon Seisun. In the 84th minute, another free kick by Petrovic was saved by Mallia. Two minutes later, a chip by Micallef was kicked into safety close to the fatal line by Luke Zahra. Four minutes into stoppage time, a shot by Ghaxaq’s Gaynor D’Amato was caught well by the Kirkop goalie.

Mdina Knights 1-2 St George’s
After a streak of seven consecutive winless league games, St George’s quest for a Play-Off spot continued with a deserved victory over bottom side Mdina Knights. The odd goal in three score might indicate a tight affair, but in reality, the Pioneers were clearly the better side, as they could even effort to miss an early penalty, while the decisive goal was scored with the Bormla side playing with ten.
After just three minutes, the Blues were awarded a penalty but Mdina goalkeeper Dwayne Camilleri did well to save the attempt by Morientes Muscat. A real missed opportunity as on 12 minutes, the Knights were awarded a spotkick of their own, with Matthew Scicluna sending veteran goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri the wrong way.
Mdina’s joy was short-lived as eight minutes later, Nathan Belhadj scored the equaliser for St George’s, rounding off a neat Blues attack. Mdina goalkeeper Camilleri then denied the Blues on several occasions during the remaining time in the first half.
Six minutes after the break, Lucas Barcik should have put the Pioneers 2-1 up but somehow kicked wide from an ideal position. Dwayne Camilleri continued to be outstanding between the sticks for Mdina, as he made a few splendid saves to keep his side into the match. On 74 minutes, Kurt Magro was expelled, but despite playing with ten, Rudy Cassar-Jeffries scored the winner for St Georges barely three minutes after the red card incident, rounding off another wonderful attack by the Blues. An important three points for Trevor Thomas’ team, who trail Kirkop by three points and sit in sixth place, knowing they cannot effort anymore slip ups in their final three matches to reach the Play-Offs.

Images copyright by Charisse Agius