oct 07 2007 18:16

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS 2 - 2

Ronnie Celeste scored twice as Birzebbugia Tigers staged a remarkable comeback to earn a precious draw against Senglea Youngsters in the opening match of the IASC First Division.

The match, played under a hot October sun, began on a slow pace with neither side looking capable of taking the lead. After 7 minutes Celeste sped through the Senglea defence from the right flank but there were no Tigers' players to connect with his low cross. Formosa shot tamely from outside the area soon afterwards into the Sengleans' keeper hands. The opponents began to take the upperhand and it was no surprise when on the 24th minute mark Senglea took the lead. A long cross thrown into the penalty area found the Tigers' defenders napping and Keith Darmanin slotted past Mangion with a precise header. In a rare attacking sortie, Barbara's backward header was saved by Gatt aided with the upright. Right on the stroke of half time, Mangion produced a point-blank save on J.Gatt to deny Senglea from increasing the lead.

Six minutes into the second period, Senglea doubled the score, when Ciappara misjudged a through ball from mid-pitch and J.Galea deposited the ball home past onrushing keeper Mangion. Barely two minutes passed when the Tigers reduced the gap. Barbara's cross from the left flank was met by lethal Celeste who deviated into the net from close range. The Tigers threw caution to the wind and Tabone's fierce shot from outside the penalty area produced a fine save out of Gatt to deny the midfielder from equalising. Fomosa tried his luck with another shot which was again saved by Gatt but after 29 minutes the Tigers were awarded a penalty after Barbara was felled in the penalty area. Celeste coolly shot past Gatt to tie the score to 2-2. Three minutes from the end, the Tigers were denied the lead with a debatable decision by the officials when Senglea keeper lost the ball in his own penalty area after colliding with Celeste and with the referee not cautioning any infringement, the same forward scored in an empty net, but the goal was disallowed by linesman Mintoff. Protests followed and Celeste was booked. In the injury time added to the second period, Mangion produced an excellent save to deny Senglea from scoring from a direct freekick.

LINE-UP
1.	MATTHEW MANGION
2.	MATTHEW SCICLUNA
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	KEVIN POLIDANO
5.	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
6.	CLIVE FORMOSA
7.	PETER CACHIA
8.	MARCO XUEREB
15.	RONNIE CELESTE (c)
10.	NOEL TABONE
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	18. ANDREW GALEA
OUT	KEVIN POLIDANO
IN	9. RYAN D'AMATO
OUT	MARCO XUEREB
IN	14. WAYNE HAMER
OUT	MATTHEW SCICLUNA