Nadur Youngsters registered their 3rd victory over Għajnsielem in the League this season. Nadur dominated for long stretches during the match and controlled well the other part. This was a very convincing victory, again against all odds, and the current Champions showed ones again they it’s going to be hard for anyone to deny them their 10^th Championship on their 50^th Anniversary. All the team played well, even in the last 25 minutes of the match when they had their Brazilian central defender sent off.

Għajnsielem settled better in the opening minutes and Xuereb had to punch away a good header by J. Camilleri following a corner action. Nadur started to get their way and J. Buttigieg hit sky-high a cross by A. Portelli. C. E. Nwankwo was denied when D. Agius deflected his try into a corner. The same Nwankwo hit high another cross by C. Camilleri. Nadur kept the pressure on and C. Camilleri hit wide from long distance. The Blacks were under pressure for the best part, with Nadur dominating possession and knocking the ball about patiently, trying to work an opening. J. M. Portelli’s send an inviting pass to A. Portelli who beat his marker but his shot was deflected away. In a rare attack of the Blacks, J. Camilleri’s try was well saved by Xuereb. Again Nadur were dangerous when A. Simoncic found J. Buttigieg unmarked, only to see his try ending just wide with keeper Agius helpless. Captain A. Portelli found C. E. Nwankwo in a good position but the latter mishit the ball that was cleared to safer waters. A nice try by D. Odavic was dangerously cleared by M. Cremona for a corner. The same corner, on the 38^th minute, was played short by Simoncic to J. Buttigieg, who passed to the unmarked Chris Camilleri outside the areas and the latter placed into the far bottom corner of the Blacks net. Nadur went close for their second when J. M. Portelli shot following a cross by C. Camilleri was stopped by the post. J. M. Portelli saw another shot being cleared away by S. Azzopardi. A dangerous tackle from behind by B. Meilak left Nadur’s Captain, A. Portelli injured. Għajnsielem’s reaction never really came and fact that the League Leaders went into the half time brake with just a minimum lead, was a surprise to all present.

Nadur continue to press for their second goal and a C. Camilleri’s cross was cleared away by D. Agius. Nadur’s double came on the 49^th minute, when Chidi Eric Nwankwo escaped his marker and placed into an empty net after beating also goalkeeper V. Agius. A. Portelli’s shot went high and on the other side a free kick by B. Meilak was cleared away by M. R. Secco. Substitute C. Hili went on a solo action, hesitated a bit too long, and the danger was cleared. On the 65^th minute Nadur were reduced to 10 men, after the referee showed the second yellow card to M. R. Secco. Għajnsielem tried to take advantage of their man up situation but only managed a free kick by B. Meilak which was headed high by D. Okanu, and an effort by J. Camilleri ending just wide. Nadur more then sealed the issue on the 72^nd minute when Chris Camilleri took the ball deep in his half, galloped through the whole Għajnsielem defence, before placing behind the helpless V. Agius. With Għajnsielem in disarray, J. Buttigieg failed to connect to an inviting cross by C. Camilleri. Għajnsielem were given the chance to reduce the arrears when they were awarded a penalty following a useless foul by P. Buttigieg on J. Camilleri. Dominic Okanu gave Xuereb no chance from the spot. This was the 950th goal conceded by Nadur Youngsters in competitive matches, in their History. Soon after, M. Cremona shot high from an ideal position following a cross by B. Meilak. A nice solo action by J. M. Portelli ended with Agius getting to the ball before J. Buttigieg could connect. Nadur were denied a clear penalty when Joseph Buttigieg brought down Josef Buttigieg in the area with the referee not only waving play on but showing a yellow card to the Nadur player. Nadur could have scored again but Agius got to the ball before J. M. Portelli following a cross by Nwankwo. The final whistle found the Champions leading comfortably by 3 goals to one, thus increasing their lead to 8 points over Sannat Lions, although the latter have a game in hand.

Referee: George Portelli

Nadur Youngsters Formation: Jonathan Xuereb; Peter Buttigieg; Jeffrey Meilak; Marcos Rogerio Secco; Chris Camilleri; Dejan Odavic; Josef Buttigieg; Aleksandar Simoncic; Chidi Eric Nwankwo (Saviour Attard); Anthony Portelli (Charles Hili); Joseph M. Portelli.