Match Report

League Div. 1
22-02-2004
Sannat Lions 0 - Nadur Youngsters 0
Gozo Stadium

match report by Charlie Grech 

Carnival Sunday is not the perfect day for any Nadur player to play football! Both sides knew they had to take all points for different reasons and the draw that emerged was no good for either team.

In front of a very small crowd at the Gozo Stadium, both Nadur and Sannat were below form even though the game was interesting. The match got on a slow start and a Conte corner for Sannat was headed by Lautier against the bar, as early as the 7th minute. For Nadur, Marlow had a nice try well saved by Galea. Another free kick by Vella for Sannat saw Lautier heading well over the bar. A cross shot by C. Camilleri for the whites was deflected for a corner and from this same corner M. Buttigieg headed wide.  Sannat started to have more possession without troubling much Falzon in the Youngsters goal. A. Portelli should have done better than shooting softly with Galea making an easy save. Galea again saved on a free kick by Simoncic. In the time added on by the referee, Nadur were very unlucky not to steal the lead but an M. Marlow free kick hit the corner of the posts and M. Buttigieg could only head the rebound wide.

While Nadur were the better team in the first half, Sannat emerged as the better in the second period. K. Buttigieg risked the own goal when he cleared a dangerous ball by Formosa. Conte, for the greens, hit the upright direct from a corner. Falzon was called to make a difficult save from a Lautier header. Mark Marlow had to be substituted when he was injured. From the resultant corner it was C. Camilleri who cleared off the line. 

The hard-working C. Hili, whom today I choose as my man of the match, found A. Portelli whose shot was deflected into the goalmouth of the Sannat goal by a defender and Galea had to make a very good save. C. Camilleri went close from a free kick. Lautier incredibly shot wide with only Falzon to beat. On the other side Simoncic miskicked the ball from a Camilleri cross. Falzon had to make another difficult save from a Conte shot.  The match ended in a goalless draw.

In my opinion there should be no football on such occasions and from the size of the crowd, it seems that the people agree with me. This draw leaves the Youngsters in second place, three points behind Zebbug, and the Lions in fifth place.

Referee:  Ronnie Farrugia

The Nadur Youngsters formation: Justin Falzon; Jeffrey Meilak; Mark Buttigieg; Brian Portelli; Alexander Simoncic; Mario Bonello; Kevin Buttigieg; Mark Marlow (Aaron Camilleri); Charles Hili; Anthony Portelli; Chris Camilleri.