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| Whites beat San Lawrenz ahead of crucial match |
| Tuesday, 15 March 2011 10:50 |
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Melita First Division League - Matchday 15 Nadur Youngsters - 5 vs St. Lawrence Spurs - 3 - by Saviour Attard
What mattered most at the end were the three points that kept Nadur well placed to challenge Ghajnsielem and Sannat for the title. The Whites went out to find an early goal and went close after 15 minutes when Attard headed high from the edge of the area. However Nadur took the lead few minutes later as John Paul Grima’s low drive skimmed beneath the keeper’s hands and went in. San Lawrenz started to press for the equalizer and were rewarded on their first real chance of goal. French midfielder Aliou collected a ball from the midfield and after going round Darko Stojanovic he fired a low shot that ended in the right corner of the net giving Sultana no chance to parry. With the three points in serious danger, Nadur had to attack to get back in the lead preferably before the half time whistle. They managed to find the important goal on the stroke of half time and it was the same Grima with another left footed shot from the edge of the area that re-established Nadur’s lead before the break. Both teams had chances at the start of the second half but Stojanovic managed to add a third for Nadur and seemingly extinguished all hopes of San Lawrenz of getting something from the match. The Serbian midfielder evaded his marker following an inviting pass and made no mistake in front of Mercieca. However the Spurs reduced the deficit few moments later as Hugo Seco’s cross was controlled by Cauchi who was fouled by Meilak and referee Mario Apap quickly pointed to the spot. From the spot kick Seco made no mistake to get his team back on track. It took only few minutes for Nadur to re-establish their two-goal lead as a through ball from the centre by Stojanovic was well intercepted by Portelli who created space and let off a fierce shot that hit the back net. Things went from bad to worse for San Lawrenz as Hugo Seco was sent off as he was booked for the second time in the match for simulating a foul in the area. Despite the sending off Nadur conceded yet another goal this time through a shot from long distance by Christopher Cauchi that caught Sultana out of goal. Nadur were lucky few moments later as Aliou entered the area with a fine run only to be intercepted by a Charles Hili tackle as he was going to shooton goal. Following this missed opportunity on the other side Nadur found another goal that this time completely sealed the issue. Saviour Attard combined with Antunes and alone in front of Micallef passed to Anthony Portelli who slotted in an empty net. This goal meant that the Nadur Youngsters captain is only one goal away from reaching his 100th goal with Nadur, an achievement that will illustrate his impressive career with the Youngsters. With the result all but assured, Nadur were content to sit back and Coach Frank Muscat substituted both Milos Stojanovic and Josef Buttigieg who are just one card short from suspension. In the other match of the afternoon, Nadur’s next opponents Ghajnsielem came from behind to obtain a 4-2 victory against Victoria Hotpurs as the seasons draws closer to its final stages. This Sunday Nadur will take on Ghajnsielem at three o’clock at the Gozo Stadium in a do-or die clash that can either keep Nadur in the race or end all the remaining hopes.
Sunday 13th March 2011 at 13:00 pm.
Note: Photos were not taken during the match. Sorry for any incovenience. |
Nadur Youngsters obtained a 5-3 victory against a brave San Lawrenz side yesterday in a rainy afternoon at the Gozo Stadium. John Paul Grima scored the first and the second goal as San Lawrenz had leveled the score late in the first half. Second half goals from Stojanovic, Joseph Portelli and Anthony Portelli ensured the three points for Nadur as the Spurs managed to reduce the deficit in two other occasions.
