Nadur Youngsters won their last match of the season against Victoria Hotspurs with the odd goal in five, a goal scored on the 90th minute. This goal meant that the outgoing Champions will play First Division football next season. It was a very difficult season, where nothing seems to work out for Nadur, but at the end they managed to evade also the relegation play off.  Nadur’s faith in their Youngsters paid off at the end and there should be hope for next season, when I am expecting the White to bounce back to winning ways.  Nadur were more determined in this match, while then Reds from Victoria never gave up even though this match really had no meaning for them except the pride.  Both sides were missing from key players due to injury or suspensions, but their replacements did a real good job.  In this match, Martin Hanus, the Czech Republic striker playing for the Citizens, failed to register his mane on the scorers list for the first time since he played his first match for Hotspurs.

The match started with Nadur moving forward and a pass from B. Brajovic was deflected by S. Muscat towards A. Portelli, but the latter shot high from a very good position.  The Reds had a long range shot by J. Portelli going wide following a pass from R. Grech.  Nadur won a free kick just outside the Hotspurs danger area, but A. Simoncic’s shot was headed towards goal by B. Brajovic only to see Grima making an easy save.  Grima was again called into action to save a long range shot by J. Meilak.  B. Brajovic’s cross was met by S. Muscat, who hesitated a bit before serving A. Portelli, and the Youngsters striker incredibly missed from a sitter from close distance.  B. Brajovic had another header well saved by Grima following a free kick by A. Simoncic.   Nadur protested for a penalty when A. Simoncic forced his way into the area and was brought down by J. P. Grima, but the referee waved play on.  S. Attard saw his header ending wide following a corner action and soon after the same faith happened to B. Timotic.  Nadur were again unlucky as a fine shot by S. Muscat was cleared by Grima.  It was all Nadur now and a cross by A. Portelli came into the patch of the onrushing B. Brajovic but he failed to make contact with the ball.  Hotspurs opened the score against the run of play, on the 34th minute, when a long clearance from the Hotspurs rearguard falls to Ryan Grech who, after controlling well had no difficulty beating S. Sultana in the Youngsters goal.  Nadur’s reaction was immediate and the score was leveled on the 37th minute.  A. Portelli’s cross was well controlled by Shaun Muscat before hitting the back of the net.  Nadur had another free kick by A. Simoncic going wide, and just before half time a cross by the same player was well controlled by substitute R. Meilak and Grima saved just before S. Muscat could make contact with the ball.  

The same pattern of play continued in the second half.  A. Portelli hit the side netting following a cross by A. Simoncic.  Grima made a very good save on a good shot by A. Simoncic after receiving from B. Brajovic.  On the 70th minute, Nadur took the lead.  S. Muscat started the action with a pass towards b. Brajovic who, after controlling well, crossed towards Anthony Portelli who hammered a tremendous shot into the net.  Nadur calmed a bit down and Hotspurs had a try by R. Grech going just wide.    On the 81st minute the Reds equalized.  John Paul Grima shot from the left beat S. Sultana with the help of the wind.  Nadur realized that they needed to push more forward to get what they needed and that’s what they did.  S. Muscat’s try hit the side netting.  Grima, in the Reds goal, had to be at his best to stop an A. Portelli shot from close range.  Again Grima did very well to save into a corner a direct free kick well taken by A. Simoncic on the 90th minute.  But the same keeper was beaten from the resultant corner taken by Simoncic and headed into the net by Saviour Attard.  It was a well deserved win at the end, a win that saw the Youngsters safely in clear waters, thus leaving Kercem Ajax to battle it out in the relegation decider against the team placed second in Division Two.


Referee: Mario Apap

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