feb 10 2005 23.13

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS 2 -0

Birzebbugia Tigers claimed their place in the top division of the Inter Amateur Soccer Competition with a hard-earned win over last year's champions Senglea Youngsters. The combination of the results from the other matches played during the weekend mean that the Tigers can now even aim to finish in the top four position and earn a place in the Inter League played between the 3rd and 4th placed teams of each division.

The Tigers were a much depleted side as they missed several key players from their usual formation. It was indeed an admirable display given by our players as they fought through the 70-minute gameplay to cling on to an important victory, the first one ever over the Sengleans in the league campaign in six seasons. Mangion deputised in goal while captain C.Formosa and M.Ciappara formed an insuperable central duo aided on the flanks by T.Massa and M.Migneco. Player coach Schwienbacher threw himself once again in the fray, assisted by veteran E.Vella, who few days short of his 42nd birthday, threw in a impeccable performance in front of the defensive line. Up front, R.Bugeja proved an asset and formed an excellent partnership with agile R.Celeste. The match commenced with Senglea searching for an early goal, but the first chance fell to Bugeja's feet when on a lone counter-attack that begin few metres away from our penalty area, the towering forward after dribbling past two defenders, saw his left-footed effort go wide. In the 22nd minute the Tigers opened the score when from a direct freekick, Clive Formosa blasted a shot past the helpless Gatt in the corner of the net. Senglea replied soon after with a header by S.Cassar which was saved well by Mangion.

A swift counterattack ignited by Bugeja right at the beginning of the second period created problems to the Senglea back-line. Our opponents continued to surge forward relentessly in their aim to equalise and avoid a surprise drop to the second division. A rare mistake by our defenders gave the opportunity to Sciberras to try his luck from outside the area but his shot was parried by Mangion. Grech and Azzopardi both went close but on the other end, Celeste rocketed past the Senglea defense and with only the goalkeeper to beat, the agile forward saw his low shot blocked by the extreme defender. The Youngsters attackers were now all over the place and our defenders had to work overtime to deny them from equalising. A back header almost proved suicidal for our defense but somehow Mangion amended and blocked the ball before crossing the fatal line. Celeste was again close to double the lead with a shot from outside the penalty area but in the dying seconds of the game the same R.Celeste doubled the score with a right-footed effort that swept past Senglea goalie. There was also time left for a scuffle in mid-pitch which saw R.Bugeja being sent off.

LINE-UP: 1 - MATTHEW MANGION; 2- TIMOTHY MASSA, 10 - CLIVE FORMOSA (capt), 5 - MICHAEL CIAPPARA, 3 - MARK MIGNECO; 4 - CHARLTON CAMILLERI, 6 - STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER, 8 - EMANUEL VELLA, 11 - DENIS CARUANA; 7 - RONNIE CELESTE, 9 - ROBERT BUGEJA

 

 

RESULTS FOR SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2006

 

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS' 1st DIVISION MATCH SCHEDULE

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS SQUAD

VIEW IASC 1 DIV RESULTS & STANDINGS

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