Kurt Borg shines in Zabbar victory

Zabbar striker Kurt Borg stole the show yesterday when he scored a hat trick to give Zabbar their first of the season and condemn Melita to their second successive defeat. It was a brilliant match with both sides playing open football in search of victory.

In the end Zabbar had the last laugh winning by the odd goal in three with Melita paying dearly their miss from the penalty spot.

Melita broke the deadlock after only ten minutes when off a Cutajar freekick, Toriano Singleton headed home on the far post past a hesitant Grech in the Zabbar goal. Zabbar had a quick reaction with a Cutajar drive well saved by Grima.

Six minutes from the break Zabbar drew level when Kurt Borg scored a well taken goal with a low drive from the edge of the area. In stoppage time Zabbar forged ahead when from a corner actio, the same Kurt Borg was again on the mark when he flicked beautifully home from an almost impossible angle.

On 58 minutes the Zabbar goalkeeper made an outstanding save off a shot on the turn by Axl Xuereb, and on the hour the same player was floored by Clayton Camilleri inside the box and from the resultant penalty Luke Micallef made no mistake.

Ten minutes later Zabbar goalkeeper made a great save off a Borg hedley dipper and from the rebound Clayton Camilleri again tripped Axl Xuereb for another Melita penalty. But this time Luke Micallef failed to beat Jonathan Grech who effected another brilliant save.

Fifteen minutes from time Zabbar regained the lead when from a corner action, Adrian Pulis’ header was somehow blocked on the goal line and from the rebound Kurt Borg notched his hat trick with another header.

Nine minutes from time Melita were reduced to ten men when Kurt Pace was sent off for dissent.

Melita: N. Grima, D. Cutajar, J. Abela, R. Parrado, K. Pace, E. Cornago, M. Russo (N. Bradshaw 27 min), J.P. Attard (L. Mifsud 90 min), A. Xuereb, L. Micallef, T. Singleton (A. Borg Hedley 65 min).

Żabbar SP: J. Grech, A. Pulis, K. Sacco, N. Falzon, D. Aquilina (S. Pace Briffa 27 min), C. Magro, K. Cutajar, A. Azzopardi, C. Camilleri, K. Borg (S. Cesare 87 min), G. Tabone (C. Stewart 70 min).

Referee: Emmanuel Grech