Nadur Youngsters -0- Sannat Lions -2-

 

 

      Nadur Youngsters suffered yet another defeat, this time against league leaders Sannat Lions.  This Lions’ double over the Youngsters, left the current champions deeply in relegation trouble while the Greens consolidated their lead at the top of the table.  Sannat showed the better ideas throughout the match and did enough to get the result they really went out for.

     The Greens started the match in attacking form and pressed from the first whistle.  A S. Rais try was blocked by the defence into a corner.  Nadur were finding it hard to create openings and the team seems to lack concentration.  M. Formosa had a good try that went well wide.  S. Brazilino, making a comeback for the Lions, fed a through ball to Camilleri but the latter was beaten to the ball before he could create any real danger for Nadur.  Nadur started to play better, and Galea in the Greens goal missed a cross by A. Portelli, only for J. M. Portelli to see his attempt at goal being cleared by the defence.  J. Buttigieg’s cross was met by A. Portelli, but his attempt was easily saved by Galea.  On the other side, Sultana had to come out of his line to clear before Andrade could reach the ball following a cross by Njoku.  Nadur went close with a try by A. Gseaa went just wide.  During what looked the best patch for the Whites, Sannat opened the score.  Sultana saved a free kick by Njoku with the help of the crossbar and John Camilleri was at hand to put the ball into an open goal.  Soon after Sultana was called to make a fine save on a de Andrade’s shot.  Nadur had an attempt by J. M. Portelli, which Galea incredible missed, cleared by A. Debono off the fatal line.  On the stroke of half time, Nadur were awarded a penalty when Galea fouled A. Portelli in the area.  A. Portelli’s shot from the spot kick was saved by the same Galea.  This was the second consecutive penalty that Nadur failed to score.  A. Portelli did manage to put the ball into the Lions net, but it was disallowed for an offside position.  

     The second half saw Sannat operating on counter attacks, and on the 55th minute they doubled.  A bad clearance from the Youngsters defence, the ball came into the patch of the unmarked Fernando de Andrade, who had no difficulty in putting the ball behind Sultana.  Nadur tried to get back into the match, but S. Muscat failed to connect with a cross by J. Buttigieg.  Good work by A. Gseaa evaporated as there was no one to meet his inviting cross into the Greens area.  The same Gseaa’s attempt following a corner by Simoncic missed the target.  Nadur had a free kick by Simoncic but again the danger was cleared as Timotic missed to connect with the ball.  J. Buttigieg’s header went just over as Sannat were comfortable controlling the Youngsters attempt to get back into the match.  J. Buttigieg went close ones more but his cross shot went inches wide.   De Andrade failed to find J. Camilleri in one of the Lions counters.  Nadur were denied the consolation goal when Galea made a marvellous save on a close range header by Simoncic following a cross by J. M. Camilleri.  Nadur were lucky not to fell further behind, when de Andrade escaped his marker only to see Sultana blocking his shot into the patch of J. Camilleri, but the latter’s shot went over.  The last danger action came from Nadur, when a S. Muscat cross was headed well by J. M. Portelli, only into the hands of the well places Galea.  

 
Referee: Andrea Arciola

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