Melita win again
Melita 1Mqabba 0 This was Melita's second successive victory in the championship. Martin Gregory's Amateurs leapfrogged Mqabba in the standings but the struggle to survive after promotion is far from over with the campaign still in its infancy. Melita...
Melita 1
Mqabba 0
This was Melita's second successive victory in the championship. Martin Gregory's Amateurs leapfrogged Mqabba in the standings but the struggle to survive after promotion is far from over with the campaign still in its infancy.
Melita never hesitate to introduce new blood in the team and against the more-experienced Mqabba yesterday they opted to start with young Karl Zahra in goal instead of regular Matthew Sapiano. Julian Galea played another blinder in midfield while Melita defender George Gribbon showed an abundance of skill along with the best player on the field, Nicolo Baldacchino Orland.
Mqabba still look a pale shadow of the side they were in the past seasons and it was only John Paul Muscat who showed some real commitment.
Melita almost took an early lead when from a long Nigel Rizzo throw-in, Gribbon's back header hit the Mqabba woodwork.
From another fast move, Galea found Baldacchino Orland on the right spot but he was stopped from scoring by the quick-thinking Mauro Bonnici who cleared off the line.
Melita, however, took the lead on 14 minutes. Baldacchino Orland was left unmarked in the Mqabba box and slid the ball home following a Luke Micallef delivery from the right flank.
Melita could have easily doubled the score on 26 minutes but Galea shot straight at keeper Kris Calleja after exchanging the ball with Baldacchino Orland.
Mqabba produced their first decent effort at goal just before half-time but Claudio Calleja's header, from a Vilson Caushi centre, finished wide.
Mqabba looked a better lot after the break and signalled their intentions to score an equaliser on 49 minutes when Muscat hit hard but Zahra saved. Two minutes later, the Melita no.1 did well to stop a Martin Anastasi header.
Melita never lost control of the match though and ventured forward each time they found a way through.
On 65 minutes, Baldacchino Orland should have done better than head the ball weakly from close in. And Melita had another good chance to wrap up the match on 82 minutes but Micallef hit badly after good service from Nicolas Zammit.
Melita: K. Zahra, S. Bonnici, G. Gribbon, M. Martin, M. Borg (N. Zammit), N. Rizzo (M. Fenech), N. Baldacchino Orland, J. Galea, L. Micallef, I. Bilocca (J. Mifsud), D. Gravino.
Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, M. Gauci (M. Anastasi), C. Calleja (G. Barry), J.P. Muscat, J. Debattista, V. Caushi.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Man of the match: Nicolo Baldacchino Orland (Melita).