St Andrew win Trophy after tense second period
San Gwann 1 St Andrews 3
In front of a packed Luxol Ground where there were also two bands in attendance this game came into life in the second period as the first half was a very low key affair as both teams insisted on playing long balls and there were only two shots at goal.
Full marks to referee Ezekjel Barbara who had a very good control on the proceedings.
St Andrews created the first action as Alexander Satariano released Matteo Sansone in the area but San Ġwann keeper Jake Pisani foiled him with a timely sortie.
St Andrews insisted and Lee Attard served Jordan Kelly with a through ball on the right flank but Pisani neutralised the ball from his high cross.
Sansone was fouled well outside the area and after the free kick by Benjamin Gatt Floridia, Satariano drove out from inside the box.
San Ġwann came close to take the lead on two consecutive occasions on the 23rd and 31st minutes.
First, Christian Gauci served Jean P Attard with a square pass just outside the area but Spiteri saved his hard drive in two attempts. Then Adam Falzon dribbled past three opponents and again Spiteri saved his hard shot from the edge of the area.
The last action before the break was created by St Andrews as Kelly served Veselji with a high through ball in the area but Pisani neutralised the ball with a perfect timely sortie.
Early in the second half, Byron Madu dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and advanced but Spiteri neutralised the ball following his high cross in the area.
Joseph Attard released Cody Grech in the area and Spiteri foiled him with a timely sortie as he dived at his feet.
St Andrews opened the score on the hour as they won a corner kick on the right flank and as the high cross by Sansone created havoc in San Ġwann’s area Lee Attard scored with a header to the joy of the numerous supporters present.
Three minutes later they doubled their lead.
From a flag kick by Sansone, Christian Gauci pushed Satariano in the area and as the referee pointed to the penalty spot he brandished the red card to Gauci and Veselji made no mistake from the spot with a hard low drive.
Six minutes before the end of normal time, despite being with ten men, San Ġwann managed to reduce the gap as Falzon pounced on a faulty clearance just outside the area and he netted with a high drive past Spiteri.
Four minutes later, Madu released Grech in the area but Spiteri dived at his feet and smothered the ball.
St Andrews put the issue beyond any doubt in the last minute of normal time as substitute Liam Hudson served Veselji with a low through ball on the right edge of the area but he was tripped by a defender as he entered the area.
He made no mistake from the resultant penalty to make it 3-1.
After the game, Mario Cardona, Head of Global Security, presented the Trophy to St Andrews captain Benjamim Gatt Floridia and medals to both sets of players and substitutes and also to the game officialas
San Ġwann: J.Pisani, R.Zarb, R.Xuereb, C.Gauci, J,P.Attard, B.Madu, J.Attard, C.Grech, L.Musu’, O.Spiteri, A.Falzon
St Andrew: S.Spiteri, B.Gatt Floridia, L.Attard, Z.Muscat, A.Satariano, J.Vella, M.Sansone, M.Muscat, J.Kelly, M.Veselji, S.Agius, Referee: Ezekjel Barbara Assistant I: Luke xuereb Assistant II: Al Hassan Sillah