League Play-Off

Mellieħa Stadium
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Tommy Cassola got the match started through his kick off. Christian Bugeja made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Domenic Debono in the 4th minute of play. Sliema Spurs's Christian Bugeja proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 6th minute of the match, managed to save Sliema Spurs from getting a goal against them. Kurt Mangion showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tommy Cassola, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Tommy Cassola received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Kurt Mangion tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 14th minute, Peter Debono got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. With a little luck, Sliema Spurs's Christian Bugeja got control of the ball when Massimo Pace tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 19th minute Tommy Cassola shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kurt Mangion saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 20th minute, Peter Debono got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 22ndth minute of the game Ryan Ciantar who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Sliema Spurs's Christian Bugeja was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Kurt Mangion showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nigel Cini in the 23rd minute of the match. Massimo Pace sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kurt Mangion took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nigel Cini, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 31 played minutes Sliema Spurs got a freekick which was hit by Malcolm Incorvaia. A collision led to Mellieħa getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Antoine Urpani hit a great ball. Domenic Debono blasted a shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Christian Bugeja having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nigel Cini in the 44th minute of play forced Mellieħa's goalkeeper Kurt Mangion to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Massimo Pace in the 47thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Christian Bugeja, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ryan Ciantar to make the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Sliema Spurs's zone, Massimo Pace stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Christian Bugeja came out of the goal and Massimo Pace tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a defensive mix-up in Sliema Spurs's zone, Massimo Pace stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Christian Bugeja came out of the goal and Massimo Pace tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 57 minutes into the match, Mellieħa's goal looked a bit too open when Tommy Cassola came free, but Kurt Mangion reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Sliema Spurs booed when Mellieħa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Evan Ghio didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 59th minute, Anthony Alamango got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 63 minutes of play, Mellieħa's Domenic Debono made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Christian Bugeja was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Domenic Debono had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Christian Bugeja stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Peter Debono's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. Kurt Mangion made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tommy Cassola in the 73rd minute of play. In the 74th minute, Ryan Ciantar left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mellieħa fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-0. If Ryan Ciantar had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 82 minutes into the game, Anthony Alamango was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sliema Spurs's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mellieħa the free kick. In the 83rd minute there was a penalty for Mellieħa. Ryan Ciantar stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Christian Bugeja. 3-0. 85 minutes into the match, Sliema Spurs's goal looked a bit too open when Domenic Debono came free, but Christian Bugeja reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Massimo Pace struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Christian Bugeja didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mellieħa. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ryan Ciantar in the 89th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Christian Bugeja prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Domenic Debono blasted a shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Christian Bugeja having to make a save. When the referee ended the match the Mellieħa players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.