League Play-Off

Mellieħa Stadium
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Martin Coonfield made the kick off and thus started the match. Karl Busietta sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Samuel Cortis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Karl Busietta in the 9th minute of play. If Kelinu Young had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 14th match minute, Mellieħa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Clayvon Giordano to maneuver through the defense. The corner first didn't look so dangerous but when George Camoin got the ball he succeeded in some way to get through the defenders to deliver a very hard score. Result 0-2. 18 minutes into the match. Nathan Dayney hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 21st minute, Karl Busietta managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mellieħa's supporters rose to their feet, but Karl Busietta was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Samuel Cortis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Martin Coonfield recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Bulebel Lightnings getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Martin Coonfield hit a great ball. 31 minutes into the match, Mellieħa's goal looked a bit too open when Nikolai Ginies came free, but Richard Papagiorcopulo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Richard Papagiorcopulo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martin Coonfield, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Karl Busietta's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Samuel Cortis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 37th minute of play. 38 minutes in the game, Kelinu Young fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Samuel Cortis having to interfere. 43 minutes into the match, Nikolai Ginies had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Richard Papagiorcopulo. Mellieħa's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Nikolai Ginies was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Bulebel Lightnings's Samuel Cortis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Karl Busietta in the 47th minute of play. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Karl Busietta to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd match minute, Mellieħa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Karl Spagnol to maneuver through the defense. In the 54th minute Martin Coonfield shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Richard Papagiorcopulo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bulebel Lightnings's Samuel Cortis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kelinu Young in the 59th minute of play. With a little luck, Mellieħa's Richard Papagiorcopulo got control of the ball when Nikolai Ginies tried to sneak it across the goal line. Richard Papagiorcopulo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martin Coonfield, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kelinu Young sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 82nd minute, Mellieħa's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Nikolai Ginies fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. After a rather tough play, Mellieħa's Darren Accarino got a free kick in the 83rd minute. Martin Coonfield might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Richard Papagiorcopulo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Martin Coonfield ran back to his position shaking his head. Richard Papagiorcopulo made a fantastic save in the 89th minute, when Nikolai Ginies sent off a good shot on target. Karl Busietta sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nathan Dayney kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. Bulebel Lightnings's Dyson De Marco pulled a muscle in his leg after 94 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Karl Busietta's late challenge caught a Bulebel Lightnings's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Karl Busietta helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Mellieħa getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Karl Busietta hit a great ball. Bulebel Lightnings's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.