Melita win KO with late goal
A very fast‐paced game watched by a very large crowd at The Luxol Ground and was also played with the best of sporting spirit as both sets of players did not resort to abnormal fouls. Ref‐ eree Danilo Francalanza de‐ serves every praise for the way he controlled the game.
The Paolites created the first action after three minutes as from a flag kick by Andreas Rizzo the ball was headed away while at the other end Daniel Pawley was fouled just outside the area and after the free kick by the same player Hibs keeper Carlos Camilleri was forced to dive and turn the ball to corner and from the flag kick by Karl Grima the ball caressed the goal but found no takers for the killer touch.
Melita again threatened and be‐ tween the 23rd and 36th minute they created three actions. Paw‐ ley served George Grima in the area and Camilleri foiled him with a timely sortie, Luke B.Mizzi was fouled on the right flank and Camilleri saved his shot in two attempts and the same player won a loose ball just outside the area and from his hard low drive the ball hit the base ot the up‐ right with Camilleri beaten.
In a Hibs action, Abela had a run down the left flank, out‐ speeding two opponents in the process, and after entering the area hi missed the upright and Melita then created the last ac‐ tion before the break as Adam Aquilna served Matteo P.Grech with a square pass outside the area but he drove over the bar.
Melita dominated the proceed‐ ings after the restart as they cre‐ ated more actions than Paola. Daniel Pawley won a loose ball in the area and he missed the bar by inches.
Andreas Vella was fouled out‐ side the area and from Karl Grima's free kick Camilleri had to dive and save the ball in two at‐ tempts.
In an action by Hibs Lyon abela released Shicane Attard in the area but he drove slightly out, but Melita soon regained the ini‐ tiative as they mounted two more actions. Pawley dribbled past an opponent outside the area and Camilleri saved his shot in two attempts and Camilleri then saved from the free kick by the same player after he was fouled on the right flank.
Two actions were then created by Hibs. Deisler Vella was fouled on the left flank and the ball was cleared away from the same player's free kick and Matthias Tabone served Lyon abela with a square pass in the area but he drove out.
Melita kept pressing. Pawley entered the area after beating an opponent and after Camilleri partially save his shot the ball was cleared away and three min‐ utes before the end of normal time Melita scored the winner. Azzopardi served Pawley with a cross‐pass from the left flank and after entering the area he scored with a hard low drive past Camil‐ leri.
Hibs created the last action be‐ fore the end as a free kick by Rizzo created havoc in Melita's area but the ball was somehow cleared away to safety.
After the game National Team coach Michele Marcolini pre‐ sente the Trophy to Melita cap‐ tain George Grima and medals to the 22 players and substitutes and also to the match officials.
Melita: J.Sissons, J.Naudi (N.Grech 60),K.Grima, D.Pawley (S.J. Attard 87), J.Dalli, N.Az‐ zopardi, A.Aquilina, A.Vella, G.Grima, L.B.Mizzi (D.Camenzuli 67), M.P.Grech.
Paola Hibs: C.Camilleri, L.Fenech, A.Callus, L.Debono, E.Grioli, C.J.Deguara, (J.Bartolo 72), L.Abela, M.Tabone ( J.Aquilina 70), D.Vella, A.Rizzo, S.Attard ( D.Gatt Brincat 79).
Referee; Danilo Francalanza