Sannat and Oratory lose top status

With Nadur Youngsters declared champions the previous week, the last verdicts in the GFA Division One league were known last weekend.

Sannat Lions and Oratory Youths lost their status while Victor Egere, the Victoria Hotspurs striker, won the top scorer award with 14 goals.

Victoria Hotspurs 2
Oratory Youths 1

This was a direct clash between two teams hanging desperately at the bottom place of the standings.

At the end, it was the Hotspurs who turned defeat into victory to maintain their proud record as the only GFA club to have always played in the top category.

Play during the first period was very tense but after the restart Victoria were showing better football only to fail miserably in front of goal.

In the 75th minute Oratory opened the score through Damian Irielle but their joy lasted only two minutes as the Hotspurs levelled matters thanks to a Steve Tabone header.

The two teams now threw caution to the wind but it was Victoria who netted the decisive goal eight minutes from time when scoring ace Victor Egere found the opponents` net after a fine solo move. Oratory`s last frantic efforts to level the score and force a decider were to no avail.

Referee: Carmel Attard.

Xewkija Tigers 5
Sannat Lions 1

This was a do-or-die situation for Sannat Lions. However, their hopes of staying up were dashed as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Xewkija Tigers who were after the runners-up spot.

Sannat had the better opening and in the sixth minute Fabian Bassi squandered a good chance to put his team ahead when he was awarded a penalty, but shot wide from the spot. Then, an Azzopardi effort came off the Tigers` woodwork.

In their first serious attempt at goal, Xewkija took the lead, Charlie Azzopardi placing the ball home from close distance. The score became 2-0 just before half-time when Jeffrey Farrugia concluded some fine work by Benneth Njoku.

Sannat halved the deficit on the hour mark through Jason Portelli but just a couple of minutes later Xewkija were awarded a penalty and Njoku re-established his team`s two-goal lead.

Sannat threw in the towel at this point and conceded two other goals from Farrugia and Sabri Rais.

Referee: Anthony Zammit.

Ghajnsielem 4
Zebbug Rovers 1

This was the last match of the championship. Ghajnsielem recovered from the setback they suffered a week earlier and registered a convincing victory to finish third in the standings, ahead of Zebbug.

Loretu Scicluna opened the score for the Blacks after 20 minutes and soon after Aloysius Ihbeulu made it 2-0. Ghajnsielem could have scored another goal in the 28th minute but a Scicluna drive hit the post.

Tarik Belhaj reduced the arrears for the Rovers but soon after the restart Ghajnsielem made it 3-1 with a Frank Buttigieg goal.

Substitute Jeremy Camilleri scored the championship`s last goal seven minutes from time.

Referee: George Portelli.

Xaghra U-21 winners

Xaghra United are the GFA U/21 championship winners after they beat Nadur Youngsters 5-1 in a decider.

Xaghra opened a four-goal lead during the first period with John Camilleri hitting three and Joseph Mercieca scoring the other goal.

Anthony Evi Parker pulled one back for Nadur after the restart but Johann Attard made it a resounding 5-1 near the end of the match.

Super Cup final

Ghajnsielem will meet Zebbug Rovers in tomorrow`s Super Cup final, the last GFA honour of the season.

In midweek, Ghajnsielem surprised newly-crowned champions Nadur 3-1. In the other semi-final, Zebbug Rovers humiliated favourites Xewkija 6-2.