Independence Cup Preliminary Round

Nadur Youngsters - 0 vs S.K. Victoria Wanderers - 2

 - by Saviour Attard

Nadur Youngsters lost their first match of the season against S.K.V.W by 2-0 on Sunday at the Sannat Ground.Two first half goals by Ajibade Adesina were enough to floor the whites who start their league campaign next Sunday against Victoria Hotpurs. The loss meant that Nadur are now out of the Independence Cup.

When looking at the chances that the Wanderers had, the score could have easily been that of 6-0 as Nadur’s rearguard was often caught with the fast counterattacks by their opponents. Depite their complete dominance in the first stints of the match the whites had several chances that they did not benefit from. Joseph Portelli who was returning for Nadur after a long lay-off had a good chance after six minutes that was blocked in two attempts by Franklin Vella in the opposite goal. Nadur had some other chances but were never lethal in front of goal and they soon paid for this. On the half hour mark, Ajibade Adesina was unmarked by Joel Vella and after dribbling Nadur’s goalkeeper fired home. The second goal came few minutes after as the wanderers once again won a ball in the midfield and the same Adesina ran unmarked towards Sultana and made no mistake to give his team a two-goal lead.

The second half saw the Wanderers again dominating their opponents and if it was not for some fine goalkeeping by Steve Sultana the score would have been much bigger than that of 2-0. Nadur never treated seriously SK’s defence and they have a lot to improve if they want to start the league with a win. The first match of the 2010/11 season is against Victoria Hotspurs this Sunday. Nadur will then face arch-rivals Ghajnsielem F.C the following Sunday and Sannat Lions few days after. The first three matches will be played against the strongest teams in the league so they will definitely say a lot on this year’s hopes of winning some silverware after two years of abstinence.

Sunday, 5th September 2010 at 17:00 p.m.
Referee: George Portelli.
Scorers: Agibade Adesina 29’, 37’ (SK).
Nadur Y. Formation: Steve Sultana, Paul Camilleri (Ryan Meilaq), Josef Buttigieg, Jeffery Meilaq, Darko Stojanovic, Milos Stojanovic, Mario Portelli (John Paul Grima), Ian Xuereb (Joseph Grima), Saviour Attard, Anthony Portelli, Joseph Portelli

Photos By Joseph Mercieca  www.gozovision.com