jan 07 2007 17:33

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs MOSTA GUNNERS 4 - 2

Ronnie Celeste scored his third hat-trick of the season and helped Birzebbugia Tigers continue with their positive run when they notched maximum points after beating Mosta Gunners 4-2. The Tigers are now in second position three points behind leaders Cospicua St Thomas with a game in hand.

The match had a most favourable start as barely two minutes had passed when the Tigers surged ahead. J.P.Barbara's deep cross from the left was met mid-air by Edmond Thornton who blasted a right-footed volley past the helpless Micallef. A gem of a goal indeed! Minutes after, Birzebbugia could have been awarded a penalty when Matthews felled Celeste in the penalty area but the referee waved play on. On the 20th minute mark Ronnie Celeste opened his goal-scoring account when he leapt to a long through pass and netted with a low shot. A few seconds later, Sammut's fierce shot from outside the penalty area was saved superbly into a corner by Paul Celeste in the Tigers' goalposts. In a swift counterattack, Ronnie Celeste was fouled by Muscat when he was speeding towards Mosta's penalty area and the referee failed to sanction with a booking, a decision which brought harsh protests from the Tigers' bench. Birzebbugia Tigers were in complete control throughout the first period and our opponents never threatened except for a Gusman's diagonal shot which brought no worries to P.Celeste.

The start of the second period saw the inclusion of A.Agius who replaced central defender M.Ciappara. Mosta's attacking forays became more intense and they tried vigorously to reduce the arrears right from the initial whistle of the second half. Mosta scored after few minutes by Gusman but their joy was short lived as the goal was disallowed for an offside position. After 9 minutes the referee judged Tigers' defender C.Xuereb to have handled the ball in his own penalty area and awarded Mosta a penalty. From the penalty spot, A.Gatt beat Celeste with a precise low shot. Mosta now doubled their efforts and after 19 minutes N.Falzon blasted a powerful shot from outside the penalty area into the corner of the net to level the score. Scarcely three minutes had passed when the Tigers regained the lead. Ronnie Celeste leapt to an opening in Mosta's rearguard and beat the onrushing Micallef. Thornton could have widened the gap furthermore but after advancing towards Mosta's goal he saw his lob finish wide. Soon afterwards, R.Celeste was unlucky to see his quickly taken freekick finish off the crossbar and right at the final whistle the same agile striker squeezed past a napping Mosta defence and scored for the third time in this game, bringing his goal tally to an incredible total of 10 goals from 4 matches.

LINE-UP
1.	Paul Celeste
2.	Charlton Camilleri
3.	Mark Migneco
4.	Clayton Xuereb
5.	Clive Formosa - capt
6.	Michael Ciappara
7.	Jeffrey Fenech
8.	Peter Cachia
9.	Ronnie Celeste
10.	Edmond Thornton
11.	John Paul Barbara
IN	Anthero Agius
OUT	Michael Ciappara
IN	Paul Carabott Damato
OUT	Charlton Camilleri

 

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