U18 League

Stadio BoreValtesino
Spectators: 174 (Terracing: 131, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Attilio Mauro got the match started through his kick off. Ferruccio Alfani didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Clayton Vella went, in the 3rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Carlo Markham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Beppe Cauli charged in rather forcefully in the 6th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Beppe Cauli the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Dejan Cumbo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Attilio Mauro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Clayton Vella's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ferruccio Alfani read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 13th minute of play. When the match had gone on for 14 minutes, Clayton Vella put it in 0-2 from a short distance just to the right of Ferruccio Alfani. After 18 played minutes Seraċini Għawdxin got a freekick which was hit by Tony Schiavone. In the 21st minute, Edward Gruppetta hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 27 minutes BRAL VAL's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Clayton Vella who took care of the corner kick. Ferruccio Alfani showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from William Manicolo in the 32nd minute of the match. Beppe Cauli was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 35 minutes into the match. Beppe Cauli kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. Ferruccio Alfani made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Clayton Vella in the 37th minute of play. In the 39th minute, Carlo Markham 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 41st minute William Manicolo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ferruccio Alfani saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Elia Buccella had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 47 minutes of play, BRAL VAL's Ercole Brini made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dejan Cumbo was left in no man's land by his defense there! After the first half Seraċini Għawdxin were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Clayton Vella was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, BRAL VAL's Ferruccio Alfani got control of the ball when Clayton Vella tried to sneak it across the goal line. 55 minutes into the game, Edward Gruppetta was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Seraċini Għawdxin's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave BRAL VAL the free kick. Edward Gruppetta kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. Ferruccio Alfani had great luck who in the 65thth minute grab hold of the ball when William Manicolo from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Corrado Fontana kicked well hit freekick during the 70th minute of the match. Dejan Cumbo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Elia Buccella, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. 73 minutes into the game, Ercole Brini was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. BRAL VAL's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Seraċini Għawdxin the free kick. If Edward Gruppetta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 78 minutes into the match, BRAL VAL's goalkeeper Ferruccio Alfani had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Clayton Vella. After a rather tough play, BRAL VAL's Corrado Fontana got a free kick in the 79th minute. 83 minutes into the game, BRAL VAL's Dave Di Giulio nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dejan Cumbo made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. After some careless play in the BRAL VAL defense, Edward Gruppetta kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ferruccio Alfani. The BRAL VAL fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ferruccio Alfani should have stopped the shot. The Seraċini Għawdxin supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Seraċini Għawdxin would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.