Youngsters Worst Start Ever

Sannat Lions -3- Nadur Youngsters -1-

10.10.08                                                                                                                                                         Gozo Stadium

            Nadur Youngsters continued on their bad start for this season, when they succumbed to Sannat Lions.  It was a very poor performance from the champions and the earlier they forget this match the better.  There was absolutely no coordination from the team, they missed simply passes and were running behind the more aggressive side, the Lions.  This was the Youngsters worst start of a season as they had never started a season with 4 consecutive defeats (1 in the cup, 3 in the League).  The only other season in which Nadur lost their first 3 league matches was the 1988-89 season, ironically the season in which they were relegated.  Both Nadur and Sannat had started this season in poor form, and were both eager to get things right during this match.  The Greens were very aggressive and their feat was helped, in no small way, by the Whites poor performance.  Sannat’s 3 first half goals came from silly mistakes in the Youngsters midfield.

            Sannat opened the match in attacking form and soon had a try by J. Camilleri ending just over the bar.  On the 7th minute, Sannat opened the score.  It was R. Nagem that stole a ball in the midfield and passed the ball to John Camilleri whose first timer was partially saved by Sultana onto the post before finding the back of the net.  There was absolutely no reaction from the Youngsters side.  J. M. Portelli had a soft effort easily controlled by Bajada.  J. Camilleri saw Sultana making a fine save following his nice shot.  On the 20th minute, Sannat doubled the score.  Again it was loose marking in midfield that allowed defender M. Azzopardi passing the ball from just inside the Greens half to the completely unmarked Fernando de Andrade, whose first time volley gave Sultana no chance.  Nadur created danger when A. Portelli managed to have the better of Azzopardi, but his try was cleared by Bajada’s legs.  Ginev’s long range try was easily controlled by Bajada.  Nadur’s best attempt came around the 30th minute, when a J. M. Portelli’s shot was blocked by Bajada with Njoku clearing his lines in extremis.   Ginev again tried his luck but the ball was cleared away into a corner, and soon after another J. M. Portelli try ended in the same way.   Sannat soon brought this Nadur surge to an end with their 3rd goal.   Nadur lost the ball in midfield again and Rashid Nagem controlled well before beating Sultana from just inside the area.  Sannat continued to control well and could have added another just before the half time whistle, when R. Sabri’s try from a very favourable position ended just wide.

          For the 2nd half, Nadur were a bit more aggressive, without really creating any real danger to the Sannat rearguard.  The Greens controlled well and operated with fast counter attacks.  J. Camilleri’s shot was blocked by J. Meilak.  J. M. Portelli saw his header going centimetres high following a free kick by A. Simoncic.  A. Portelli had a good effort going high with Bajada a bit out of place.  Substitute J. Said hit the crossbar with and the ball was cleared off the line by M. Muscat.  In one of the counters, Sannat’s J. Camilleri shot missed the foot of the post by a few centimetres.  A. Portelli’s header went close for Nadur and on the other side; Sabri had a good shot from a good position going high.  Nadur finally got their first goal in the league this season when Joseph M. Portelli was in the right place to tap in a free kick by Simoncic, right on the 90th minute.  Sannat now have 4 points from 3 matches, while Nadur stay on the 0 mark. Definitely, Nadur should be worried more about this performance than with the result. 

Referee: Paul Apap

Nadur Youngsters Formation : Steve Sultana ; Jeffrey Meilak; Saviour Attard; Peter Buttigieg ; Aleksandar Simoncic; Branislav Timotic; Josef Buttigieg; Ivo Ginev; Shaun Muscat (Jonathan Said); Anthony Portelli; Joseph M. Portelli.