Match Report

League Division 1
31-01-2004
Zebbug Rovers 3 - Nadur Youngsters 2
Gozo Stadium

match report by Charlie Grech

In what was maybe the most expected match of the first round Zebbug Rovers registered a great result, beating defending Champions Nadur Youngsters by the odd goal in five. In brilliant sunshine it was the Youngsters who started to play with better ideas with the Rovers controlling well. A mistake by K. Buttigieg send Touali free but his shot was wide off the post. A cross shot by Marlow for the whites but Ihbeulu missed the connection. Nadur had the ball in the net but play was stopped for a foul but M. Buttigieg. On the 24th minute J. Portelli was out injured for Nadur. With an extra player on the pitch, on the 26th minute, Zebbug went on a very fast counter attack with Touali passing the ball to the unmarked Leonardo Quinhione ended the action with a fine header into the net. Nadur tried to react but were slow up front. On the 38th minute mark Zebbug made it 2-0.  John Eboh took the opportunity off a mistake by a Nadur defender and had no difficulty beating Falzon who touched the ball with his feet but couldn’t keep it out of goal. The Youngsters' reaction this time was better and C. Cini was forced to bring down A. Portelli in the penalty area. Up went Mark Marlow who scored in his second attempt as the referee made him take the second shot after he had also scored the first. Seconds before half time Marlow had a very strong shot deflected for a corner. 

The second half opened with the Youngsters all out for the equalizer. A corner by Marlow ended with M. Buttigieg heading straight into Xuereb’s hands. Xuereb again saved an Ihbeulu header from a Camilleri free kick. C. Camilleri failed to connect when in an ideal position inside the 6 yard area. On the 69th minute a fatal error by P. Camilleri, who miskicked the ball in the patch of John Eboh who rounded off the goalie, beat a defender and calmly slot the ball into an empty net - 3-1 and this was the killing blow for Nadur. Nadur tried in vain to get back into the game but they looked tired and very slow up front. Deep into injury time (92nd minute) Nadur made the score more respectably when A. Tramboo floored Ihbeulu and Mark Marlow again scored from the spot, for the final score 3-2.  That’s how it all ended with Zebbug now opening a 6 point lead over Nadur and may now be considered the only contenders for the title even though we are still at the end of the first round.

These two teams will face each other in the Freedom Day Cup Final and the GFA Cup Final, ironically both scheduled for the 31st of March. The GFA Cup Final will have to be rescheduled, as this day is Freedom Day.

Referee:  Anton Zammit

The Nadur Youngsters formation: Justin Falzon; Paul Camilleri (Aaron Camilleri); Mark Buttigieg; Kevin Buttigieg; Brian Portelli; Mario Bonello; Mark Marlow; Joseph Portelli Cauchi (Jeffrey Meilak); Aloysius Ihbeulu; Anthony Portelli; Chris Camilleri.