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Blacks won't back down
October
29
Ghajnsielem
earned a 2-2 draw in an eventful match against Nadur Youngsters. Stefan
Azzopardi gave Ghajnsielem a deserved one-goal lead towards the end of the
first half when he pounced on the rebound from a Joseph Attard shot. Early
in the second half, Nadur equalized following the award of a dubious
penalty. With the Blacks still in a state of shock the Youngsters forged
ahead shortly after. Ghajnsielem pulled level midway through the second
half from a scrappy goal claimed by Fernando de Andrade. The Brazilian
striker who was shown a yellow card in the penalty incident, was flashed a
second yellow when he fell down under a defender's challenge, and had to
go leaving the Blacks with the task of finishing the match with 10
men. Ghajnsielem's Under/14 side opened their league commitments with
a 7-1 win over Sannat Lions. Gabriel Cordina and Justin Buttigieg each
scored a hat-trick. Nathan Portelli scored the other goal.
Blacks moments away from
unlikely win
October
22
Ghajnsielem
drew 2-2 against Kercem Ajax. Charles Mercieca and Joseph Attard scored
for the Blacks. The Blacks looked set for a famous win when Attard
squeezed in the go-ahead goals two minutes from time. But Kercem forced a
desperate equalizer in injury time through Alex Tramboo. Jerry Ani had
given Kercem the lead with a first half goal. Ghajnsielem drew level
shortly after with a thumping header from Charles Mercieca. Earlier in the
week Sannat L. beat Xewkija T. 2-1 and Qala S.J. battled Nadur Y. to a 3-3
draw. Ghajnsielem's Under/16 side crashed out of the B.O.V. Cup when they
lost to Xaghra U. 1-5. Ryan Spiteri scored the solitary goal for the
Blacks. Ghajnsielem's Under/14 side were ambushed by Nadur Y. and bowed
out of the H.S.B.C. Cup 2-6. Robert Grima and Gabriel Cordina scored for
Ghajnsielem.
Blacks slip to the first
league defeat
October
14
Ghajnsielem lost 1-3 to Sannat Lions in their third league match of the
season. Leandro Blanco de Castro struck first for the Blacks with a direct
free-kick. Sabri Rais equalized for the Lions with a spectacular scissor
kick. Sannat forged ahead with a first half injury time goal scored by
Mark Muscat. Ricardo Saverino rounded out the scoring with a breakaway
goal at the end of the match. A one-minute silence was observed before
kick-off as a sign of respect towards ex-Blacks centre-half, Francis
Buttigieg, who passed away earlier this month. Xaghra United and Kercem
Ajax drew 0-0 in the other league match this weekend.
Blacks' U/14 drew 1-1 against Nadur
Y.
in their opening match of the league. Gabriel Cordina scored for
Ghajnsielem. The Under/16 side beat Sannat L. 3-1. Matthew Grech scored
twice and Ryan Spiteri scored the other goal for the Blacks.
Champions find their
stride
October
8
Champions Nadur Y. swept aside Xewkija T. 6-2 to leap into first place for
the first time this season. Xaghra U. also flexed their muscles beating
Qala St. J. 5-1. Kercem A. inflicted the first defeat of the season on
Sannat L., when they beat them 2-0 on Saturday. Ghajnsielem's Under/14
side beat Gharb R. 8-0 to move to the semi-finals of the knockout
competition. Justin Buttigieg (3), Gabriel Cordina (2), Robert Grima, Paul
Dimech and Lornie Mizzi scored the goals for the Blacks. Ghajnsielem's
Under/12 side annihilated Zebbug R. 11-1. Ascanio Bajada scored a
hat-trick. Luke Meilak, Damon Hili, Justin Attard and Adrian Cordina
scored two goals each.
Ghajnsielem mourns
Francis Buttigieg
October
1
Ghajnsielem mourns the passing of ex-Blacks player, Francis Buttigieg, who
succumbed to a serious illness. Francis, who was five days short of his
55th birthday, is survived by his wife, Veronica, sons Larry (local
councilor and ex-player), Joseph (Ghajnsielem midfielder--right) and
daughter Angie, brothers (including Raymond) and sisters, several nieces
and nephews including Blacks players Frank, Larry, Anthony and Justin.
Francis appeared 21 times for the Blacks from the back end of the 75/76
season to the opening games of the 77/78 season, playing in the centre-half
position. Francis was a reserved, hard-working family man who was loved by
all. He will be sorely missed.
Qala S.J. join Blacks
in first place
October
1
Qala St. Joseph drew 1-1 against Kercem Ajax on Saturday to draw level
with the Blacks at the top of the table. Champions Nadur Youngsters beat
Xaghra United 1-0 to climb within a point of the early pace-setters.
Youth season kicks-off
October
1
Ghajnsielem's Under/12 and Under/14 sides kicked off their seasons with
wins. The Under/12 side led by Alex Spiteri beat Kercem A. 4-3 in their opening
match. Luke Meilak scored a hat-trick and captain Brandon Spiteri scored
the other goal for the Blacks. The Under/14 team coached once again by Ivan Vella, beat
S.K.
Victoria W. 3-1 in the knockout competition for the category. The match
ended 1-1 after normal time. Ghajnsielem scored twice in extra-time to
move into the quarter-final stage where they will face Gharb R. Gabriel
Cordina (2) and Thomas Camilleri scored the goals. The Under/16 side,
coached this season by Tarik Belhaj, was idle this weekend.
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