Għajnsielem F.C.’s Under/21 team
suffered their first defeat of
the season when they fell 0-2 to
Victoria Hotspurs. The Blacks
went into this difficult match
with a much changed side from
their last outing. The Blacks
took some time to settle down as
a result and suffered an early
goal. After risking to go
further behind the Blacks
dragged themselves into the
match and were unlucky not to
draw level. Late in the match,
when tiredness finally set in
the Blacks conceded the killer
second goal, and even risked
falling further behind for what
would surely have been a harsher
score.
Richard Sammut, who seems to
grow in confidence with every
appearance at any level, was in
terrific form in the Blacks
goal. He was not to blame for
either of the two goals. He made
a couple of acrobatic saves in
each half, and came off his line
on a number of occasions to
intercept Victoria intruders.
Sammut's progress is remarkable
given the fact that he has only
five competitive appearances to
his name this season (two with
the senior side and three for
the Under/21 team).
The Blacks fielded a new central
defensive pairing: captain
Joshua Cassar and Jonathan
Grech, who was making his first
appearance of the season. These
two developed an immediate
understanding at the heart of
the Blacks' defensive. Given
Grech's lack of match fitness
the fact that he performed at a
high level for the entire ninety
minutes is quite impressive.
Grech saved at least one goal
with a goal line clearance, and
executed a number of thunderous
tackles. Cassar, who, unlike
Grech, is supremely fit,
exhibited greater balance in his
interventions. When most of
those around him wilted late in
the match, Cassar was still
lucid in thought and smooth in
his clearances. Brandon Xuereb
and Ryan Grima played at right
and left back. Xuereb's was his
third match in a row. Grima made
his first appearance of the
season. One or two turnovers
aside, Xuereb played well in
defense and executed a number of
robust challenges, something
which was crucial in the face of
highly skilled opposition such
as the Reds' Under/21 side.
Simon Spiteri came on for Xuereb
late in the match. Grima held up
well and should be satisfied
with his performance given his
lack of match fitness.
Robert Grima stepped up in
midfield and resumed his
partnership with Charlon Tabone,
who had missed the last match.
These two tried their best to
disrupt the Hotspurs' manoeuvre
in midfield and largely
succeeded. They were less
successful, however, in
consistently ensuring a smooth
transition from defence to
attack. They, as well as other
Blacks in midfield and attack,
were often caught in possession.
Holding on too long to the ball
is the Blacks' most noticeable
fault at this level. On a
positive note Grima and Tabone
launched a number of promising
Blacks attacks, and Tabone
forced the Hotspurs' keeper into
two difficult saves, one in each
half, with efforts from long
distance. Adrian Cordina, who
kept his place wide right in
midfield, did not feel
intimidated at all by the
opposition. Not brought into the
match often enough by his
team-mates, however, Cordina
faded and eventually made way to
Jonathan Sultana. Jason Vella,
who returned to the starting
line-up after missing the Xagħra
match, started slowly by his own
admission but recovered to
finish well until he succumbed
to severe cramps. He was
substituted by Robert Vassallo.
This not before the Blacks'
number three had smashed a
header against the Hotspurs'
crossbar, just missing a
deserved equalizer.
Kenny Hili returned up front
after an unhappy time in
midfield against Xagħra. Luke
Meilak kept his place in attack.
Of the two, Meilak had the best
chance but he could not put
enough force behind his second
half strike, allowing the
Hotspurs goalkeeper to save.
Hili and Meilak do not have as
good an understanding up front
as either of them have with the
missing Ferdinando Apap. As a
result the performance of these
two fine strikers suffered in
this match. Furthermore, they
were not helped by some selfish
play from their midfielders.
Hili still had an opportunity to
put his skills in display with
some fine first touches both
controlling the ball and
flicking it on to a running
team-mate.
Although the defeat constitutes
a setback for the side's hope of
challenging for honours, the
respectable scoreline, which
with some luck would have been
even narrower, and that stretch
of the match during which the
Blacks snatched the initiative
from the Reds are positives that
the Black should take away from
this match. Newcomers Ryan Grima
and Jonathan Grech acquitted
themselves well enough and their
return to first team training
should be encouraged. One hopes
that the bitterness of this
defeat inspires the Blacks to
focus more on the importance of
the phase of transition from
defence to attack (and also from
attack to defence). Confidence
on the ball, unselfish play and
sacrifice are the intangibles
that have to be brought to bear
in this phase in future outings.
