Important Win for Nadur

Nadur Youngsters -2- Kercem Ajax -0-

29.03.09                                                                                                                                                                     Gozo Stadium

A very determined Youngsters side got the better of fellow strugglers Kercem Ajax in this direct clash from the relegation zone.  Nadur dominated, and never really gave the Greens any space throughout the match.  Kercem were a point ahead of Nadur before the match, so a draw was never in the Youngsters mind, and encouraged by there supporters they gave a very good account of themselves and emerged worthy winners at the end.  With 2 matches for the end of the season, this could prove a vital win for the outgoing champions.  Kercem were without 2 regular players, F. Camilleri and M. Stojanovic, due to suspension.

Nadur opened up with a free kick by A. Simoncic that was somehow cleared by the Greens defence.   They kept pressing on for that early goal, and they managed to open the score on the 6th minute.  Another free kick by player/coach A. Simoncic was well headed by B. Timotic onto the crossbar but Bojan Brajovic was at hand to head the rebound into an empty net.  Encouraged by this goal the Youngsters had another good opportunity when A. Portelli went on a solo action but his fine shot was well saved by L. Camilleri into a corner.  From the same corner Timotic headed just wide.  A cross by J. Buttigieg was nicely met by B. Brajovic’s head, with A. Portelli guiding the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee for a very dubious offside position by the Youngsters captain.  The Whites were denied the second goal few minutes later when a fine header by A. Portelli hit beat Camilleri but not the crossbar.  Kercem had a rare attack on the Youngsters goal when L. Debrincat was allowed space enough to try his luck with a powerful shot from outside the area, but S. Sultana was ready to intervene with a fine save.  A header by B. Brajovic from an A. Simoncic’s corner ended just wide.  The last action of the first half came from Kercem, when Sultana had to save a free kick taken by M. Cvetic.

The second half continued on the same pattern of the first with Nadur all out to secure the points.  They went close in the opening minutes when B. Brajovic beat his marker and went towards the Kercem goal but concluded weakly and Camilleri had no difficulty in saving.  The Youngsters Captain, A. Portelli, saw Camilleri saving his tremendous shot, and soon after A. Simoncic hit the foot of the post with a first time shot following an inviting cross by j. Buttigieg.   Timotic had another header that ended just over the bar from another corner kick by A. Simoncic.  A. Portelli tried to chip the ball over Camilleri but his try missed the target.  Nadur sealed all three points 2 minutes from time, when Branislav Timotic sends his powerful header into the net, following a corner by A. Simoncic.  This victory followed 2 draw between these 2 sides this season in League commitments.  It well deserved victory for the Nadur side that now can continue to build on this performance to get away from the relegation decider’s position.  (No pictures were available for this match)
 

Referee: Anton Zammit

Nadur Youngsters Formation : Steve Sultana, Peter Buttigieg, Jeffrey Meilak, Branislav Timotic, Aleksandar Simoncic, Mario Portelli, Josef Buttigieg (Jonathan Said), Bojan Brajovic, Saviour Attard, Anthony Portelli, Shaun Muscat (Ryan Meilak).