nov 26 2006 18:28

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs COSPICUA ST THOMAS 1 - 3

In a disastous 5-minute spell right at the finale of the match, Birzebbugia Tigers threw away a precious point against Cospicua St Thomas and finally ended the game as losers in this first defeat of the season after two consecutive wins.

The game had a quiet start and both goalkeepers were rarely tested except for two long-range efforts by J.P.Barbara and Cosaitis on either end. Celeste saved well a Sciortino freekick but could hardly do anything when after 24 minutes young midfielder Matthew Spiteri eluded the Tigers' offside trap and placed the ball at the back of the net. Barely two minutes passed when the same Spiteri zigzagged through the Tigers' defence but saw Paul Celeste perform a fine save to deny Cospicua from doubling the lead. Birzebbugia tried to react but could not find a way past a resilient Cospicua defence. A cross after a fine run on the right flank by Carabott Damato was cleared without any difficulty and right at the end of the first period, P.Cachia tried his luck with a shot from outside the area which was well saved by E.Attard.

Striker Thornton was brought on in the interval to bolster the Tigers' forward line and it was the same player who after 14 minutes tied the score to 1-1. Schwienbacher's looping shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and the ball fell in the path of Thornton who from close range beat Attard with a left-footed volley. The Tigers surged forward and their efforts began to gain momentum and the same Thornton twice came close to score again when he had two diagonal shots saved by Attard. Cospicua could have regained the lead when substitute D.Agius saw his diagonal shot slam against the post with Celeste well beaten. Right on the half hour mark, St Thomas regained the lead when Brignoli rose unmarked in the penalty area and headed past Celeste. The same goalkeeper could have become the unlikely scorer today when he went twice close to equalise for the Tigers, first when he saw Attard parry in a corner his well taken freekick from the middle of the pitch and from the subsequent corner kick, Paul Celeste saw his overhead kick well saved by the same Attard. In a tumultuous finale, Daniel Galea was given marching order by referee Mintoff for a second bookable offence and seconds later, A.Agius was robbed of the ball by Spiteri who served the unmarked Brignoli who had no difficulty in scoring his second goal of the match and seal matters in favour of Cospicua St Thomas.

Line-up: 1. Paul Celeste; 2. Matthew Scicluna, 4. Michael Ciappara, 5. Daniel Galea, 3. Anthero Agius; 10. Paul Carabott Damato (15. Edmond Thornton), 6. Stefan Schwienbacher (capt), 8. Noel Tabone, 11. John Paul Barbara; 7. Kevin Tonna, 9. Peter Cachia (13. Paul Saliba)