Under 19 Youth League Section B

Lija Athletic FC   1 - 1   Balzan Youths FC   [Ht: 1 - 0]

Date: 08-Sep-2006 ~ Venue: Sirens Ground ~ Kick-Off: 09.00hrs.

Lija Athletic kicked-off the new season with a one-all draw against neighbouring Balzan Youths. This match, played in torrid heat conditions under a scorching sun, also kicked-off the Youth League football season. Both teams displayed good qualities on pitch and the match was for long stretches of time a balanced affair, no wonder the final result was a stalemate. Lija opened well, but it was Balzan who had the first shot on goal through their forward Wayne Muscat, in the 13th minute. Lija replied again in the 21st minute, with a strong Mark Cremona shot, that ended slightly wide. On 36 minutes, the Athletic forged ahead much to the joy of the numerous fans backing the blue-grey (Lija) outfit. The Balzan keeper, Mark Briffa fumbled an interception on the ball, and in nipped quickly the Lija skipper Daniel Cremona, who blasted the ball inside an empty net. The Youths replied a minute later, with a shot from the right that sailed slightly high. Three minutes from the break, Kevin Ellul, the Lija goalie was called on to action when he ably saved a distant volley in two attempts.

[ Half-time: 1-0 ]

The second half was rather uneventful during the first few minutes. Nevertheless, on 55 minutes a defensive blunder led to Balzan Youth's equaliser. Wayne Muscat, who ironically hails from Lija, stole the ball intelligently from the feet of the confused Lija defenders, and beautifully lobbed over the onrushing Lija keeper to earn his side a deserved equaliser. Ten minutes later, Lija were a whisker away from a second goal when a Mark Cremona header, following a free-kick, went some few inches wide. Three minutes later, the Athletic were once again dangerous through their forward Ivan Scicluna, who saw his shot being repelled and driven into a corner by the Balzan goal-keeper. Lija kept pushing forward in search of a winner, and Hubert Friggieri was again close on 69 minutes following a well-taken throw-in. Balzan too, created a couple of chances but on 77 minutes, it was once again Lija who were the more dangerous when Mark Cremona drove a menacing shot that sailed high. Five minutes from time, Balzan Youths had a marvellous opportunity to seal the whole issue when a forward came all alone in front of a perplexed Lija keeper, however the chance was wasted as the final shot went completely off target. Lija Athletic, had their last say in an interesting derby match when the tireless Mark Cremona saw his effort ending milli-metres high off the cross-bar on 88 minutes, to the relief of the Balzan clan.

[ Full-time: 1-1 ]

Lija Athletic player of the Match: Mark Cremona.

  << Team Formation >>

<< Kevin Ellul -- Josef Laferla (Martin Grech) -- Hubert Friggieri -- Stephen Tanti -- Daniel Gauci -- Daniel Cremona -- Steve Ferriggi -- Ivan Scicluna -- Mark Cremona -- Keith Farrugia (Carmel Muscat) -- Andrè Scicluna >>

Report by Samuel M. Cutajar ©  

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