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MATCH REPORT
Għajnsielem F.C.'s
eight game winning streak came
to an end following the Blacks'
2-2 draw against Nadur
Youngsters. The season-long
unbeaten streak, however, goes
on to nine. It is worth
noting that this squad's
combined record for the calendar
year 2011 is 21 official matches
played, 19 wins (11 from last
season as Under/14) and 2 draws,
this one and last season's
Under/14 title clinching draw
against Oratory Youths. This has
been a remarkable year for these
group of players and their
coach, Alex Spiteri.
Unfortunately,
Spiteri
was not on
hand to lead the Blacks from the
sidelines for this match. Downed
by a nasty cold, Spiteri had to
suffer through mobile phone
updates the uncertain outcome of
what turned out to be a tense
match. The team more or
less selected itself with the
absence of several players.
Andrea Grima returned to the
starting line-up at right-back
in place of Adrian Demanuele,
who was also under the weather.
Chris Cauchi missed out on a
start but was introduced late in
the match and nearly decided the
contest in the Blacks' favour.
Nadur Youngsters
have recovered well after a slow
start and are now back in the
hunt for honours. The Blacks can
console themselves that at least
they kept their margin of
distance from this dangerous
opponent even if they had let
other teams such as Oratory
Youths edge closer. Led by Lucas
Cefai the Youngsters presented a
real threat to the Blacks. Nadur
had several shots miss Owen
Xuereb's goal by mere inches.
Unfortunately, the goals
conceded by the Blacks were
cheap ones. In the first one
Cefai punished the Blacks for
their indecision at the back:
Andrew Attard and Owen Xuereb
left the ball to each other (and
this was not the first time in
the match that this happened)
and Cefai pounced on the free
ball and deposited into an empty
net. In the second one Cefai
overpowered Xuereb, who had an
otherwise good game, from way
out. Nadur also had a goal
disallowed. Although they did
not have too many other glaring
scoring opportunities they
looked like they could score at
any time thanks to the
intelligent use of Cefai's
strength and the support that he
received from his fellow
forwards.
For the
previously perfect Blacks this
was a frustrating afternoon.
They delivered shots at Nadur's
goal at regular intervals. But
the balls kept whistling wide,
and when on target were stopped
by the goal frame or by the
excellent Nadur goalkeeper. The
Blacks could have snatched all
three points but one feels that
it is good that they had to
settle for a draw. To start with
Nadur deserved something from
this match particularly for
finding a way to unsettle the
Blacks. More importantly,
however, the Blacks needed to
learn to persevere with their
usual teamwork longer than they
did this afternoon. It is true
that close matches can be won,
at times Roy of the Rovers
style, with individual
brilliance but as this match
would prove this is not the best
way to go about in search of
victory. One or two players
cannot try to win matches on
their own especially with ample
time on the clock. Had the
Blacks persisted with their
usual passing game they might
have won.
In the end they
had to settle for a draw. Jamie
Vella scored his fourth goal of
the season when his glancing
header from an Alberto Xuereb
shot crept in at the far post.
The Blacks took this lead into
half-time. Nadur turned the
tables with two quick goals.
Għajnsielem's
furious reaction brought a Damon
Hili equalizer, a ball that
rocketed back off the crossbar
from a Hili shot and numerous
impressive saves from the Nadur
goalkeeper.
Għajnsielem
are still in pole position but
they have to learn how to cope
with frustration if they hope to
be still there at the end of the
season. (Photography Josef Vella)
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