Qormi return to winning ways to keep top spot

Qormi made sure to finish on top of the standings at the end of the first round, even though they have a game in hand, when they defeated San Gwann by the odd goal in three in a highly entertaining match.

San Gwann gave a very good account of themselves especially in the first hour of the game, but faded out with the sending off of defender Stacey Vella immediately after suffering Qormi’s winning goal.

On two minutes Qormi forged ahead when Tensior Guzman powered his way on the right and passed towards Matombo who in turn passed towards Michael Camilleri who fired home from two meters.

Qormi’s joy was shortlived as six minutes later San Gwann drew level when Godwin Henshaw was tripped by Nick Ghio and from the resultant penalty the same Henshaw fired in the top corner of the net.

After this bubbly start the game slowed down the pace but was still highly entertaining. San Gwann proved to be a hard nut to crack for the league leaders, with Henshaw in devastating form. The San Gwann striker went close on 25 minutes when he darted inside the box but his effort hit the side netting.

Three minutes from the break Yannick Yankam almost deceived goalkeeper Bartolo, but the San gwann custodian managed to block in two attempts. Just before the break another good run by Godwin Henshaw was finished off with another fierce drive that was well saved by Azzopardi.

Sixty seconds into the second half an Alan Abela header landed on the crossbar. On 56 minutes Qormi went close again with a Caetano Da Silva pass towards Tensior Guzman who fired a shot that was brilliantly saved by Bartolo.

On the hour an Abouhaisa shot went wide and two minutes later San Gwann were unlucky when an Andre Cachia was saved by Azzopardi with the ball finishing against the crossbar. On 64 minutes Matombo passed towards Caetano Da Silva who beat the offside trap and slotted home. The San Gwann defender Stacey Vella protested with the assistant referee and was shown a second yellow.

San Gwann tried desperately to save the match but Qormi were now finding more space in attack and should have sealed it on 83 minutes but Bartolo saved Matombo’s point blank shot.

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, J. Caetano Da Silva, Y. Yankam, T. Guzman (L. Busuttil 69 min), B. Grech, A. Abela, A. Cassar, N. Ghio, C. Matombo (S. Zammit 88 min), D. Vukovic, M. Camilleri (I. Zammit 86 min)

San Gwann: E. Bartolo, D. Fenech (C. Gauci 67 min), T. Lopes De Sousa, N. Abouhaisa, A. Cachia, A. Borg (D. Chavez Flores 89 min), H. Blessing Godwwin, K. Gatt, J. Kiala (A. Abela 67 min), S. Vella, R. Zammit.

Referee: Shaun Calleja