Gudja United were unable to go beyond a 0-0 draw against Fgura. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Fgura United 0
Gudja United 0

Gudja failed to take sole leadership in the Division One standings yesterday after being held to a goalless draw by mid-table side Fgura at the Centenary Stadium.

Fgura, perhaps, deserved better as they were the more enterprising side on the pitch, continuing from where they had left in the previous match following a 4-3 win over Gżira United.

Gudja showed the same kind of poor play displayed against St George’s in their last league outing before the international break.

Fgura saw more of the ball in the early stages and could have forged ahead after only two minutes but Josef Dalli, put through by Mendy, blasted his shot well out of range with only the Gudja goakeeper to beat.

Fgura again came close on 16 minutes. This time, a clearance by keeper Matthew Xerxen fell into the path of Mendy whose effort from outside the area was stopped by the Gudja no.1.

But a more glaring chance came to Gudja soon after when Adrian Carabott’s header hit the foot of a post from a Clint Farrugia cross from the left.

Fgura hit back four minutes later with a Quincy Bregman effort from outside the area that was stopped by Xerxen.

On 33 minutes, Angelo Catania’s looping header from Adrian Carabott’s corner sailed over Brandon Bartolo’s goal and a minute before the break an Udo Nwoko free-kick also finished just wide of the Fgura goal-frame.

Fgura maintained composure after the break and on 64 minutes Abeeb Williams hit badly from a good position.

A minute later it was Fgura again as Ryan Previ brought the best out of Xerxen who turned his shot for a corner.

On 81 minutes, Iro Curmi’s effort, after a perfect ball from Williams, was saved by the Gudja goalkeeper.

The stalemate was almost broken two minutes from time when Bartolo did well to keep out Nwoko’s volley.

A goal at that juncture would have been sheer injustice on a resilient Fgura team.

Fgura: B. Bartolo, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J. Ruiz Perez, A. Galea, J. Bugeja, A. Mendy, I. Curmi (J. Emeka), A. Farrugia, J. Dalli (D. Attard), A. Williams.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, P.P. Sammut, C. Farrugia, C. Fenech (M. Groves), R. Buhagiar, C. Giordmaina, E. Micheletti Awoh, M. Brincat, U. Nwoko, A. Carabott, A. Catania.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Man of the match: Ryan Previ (Fgura United).

Standings