Holders Nadur Youngsters were beaten 2 - 0 by Victoria Hotspurs in this season’s Jum il-Ħelsien up Final. With a goal in each half, the Reds won the Cup for the first time. Victoria were the most motivated team on the pitch. Nadur had a goal disallowed for a very arguable offside decision, missed a penalty kick on the 45th minute and had a player sent off for a second yellow card on the hour, but the team look tired and lacked that concentration we normally see in the team. This was the 5th encounter between these two sides this season and after 3 consecutives victories for the Youngsters, this was Nadur’s second consecutive defeat for the league leaders against their main contenders for the title.

The match started with both sets of players looking very cautions not to give away anything and in this study period Nadur looked more adventerous. A nice through ball by C. Camilleri towards C. E. Nwankwo but Grima was there to clear the ball away. The clearance somehow was returned to Nwankwo but the latter failed to connect. Then it was J. M. Portelli’s who didnt connect to an A. Portelli’s cross. C. Camilleri tried his luck from long distance but his effort ended just wide. On the other side, Victoria went close on their first real opportunity. A nice action between D. Farrugia was concluded by M. Buttigieg, but Xuereb save in two attempts. On the 19th minute, the Reds forged ahead. On a fast break, J. P. Grima found the unmarked Ricardo Saverino, who flew past the Youngsters defence and had no difficulty beating the outcoming Xuereb. The Youngsters reaction was immediate although they looked a bit slow in their actions. C. Camilleri shot wide from long range was easily saved by Grima and C. Hili effort ended wide. Grima was again called for a difficult save by C. E. Nwankwo nfollowing a cross by C. Camilleri. Nadur had the ball in the Hotspurs net on the 32nd minute when J. M. Portelli concluded a cross by A. Portelli, but the goal was disallowed for a very doubious offside decision. Soon after another fine try by J. M. Portelli was turned into a corner by Grima. Nadur kept on pressing for the equilizer but were mnever really dangerous, and when they did there was Grima saving well. On the 45th minute Nadur were awarded a penalty when a shot by A. Portelli was stopped by the hand of J. P. Grima. Mark Grima emerged as the saviour of his team when he saved well the penalty kick taken by C. E. Nwankwo. In stoppage time, Xuereb had to be at his best to block a free kick by J. Portelli.

Nadur tried to recapture their composure in the second half but looked tired as the Hotspurs were controlling without much difficulty. Nadur managed a couple of long range shots that didn’t bother Grima much. J. Portelli went close for the Reds and a free kick from just outside the area by Saverino went high. On the 54^th minute, Nadur went 0 – 2 down. R. Saverino received the ball just outside the area, went round two defenders and passed the ball to Noel Borg, who placed the ball in the back of the net. Nadur were now in disarray and on the hour mark they ended with ten men on the pitch when Dejan Odavic was shown his 2^nd yellow card, and was sent off for an early shower. Nadur had a chance of getting back into the match when a J. M. Portelli’s shot beat Grima but was deflected away by the foot of the post. Hotspurs could have scored another goal but substitute P. Buttigieg cleared off the line a corner by J. Portelli.

The final whistle was gratefully welcomed by the Victoria Hotspurs clan. All in all they deserved this victory. Nadur should forget this performance and keep their concentration on the next appointments in League commitments. After the match, Mr. Vincent Grech from the Cultural Section of the Gozo Ministry, accompanied by Mr. Joe Cordina, GFA President, presented the trophies to the Captains, A. Portelli for Nadur and M. Vella for the Victoria Hotspurs.