St.Andrews F.C Unofficial Website
LAST MATCH
Opposition: Xghajra T. F.C
Venue: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Date: 17/03/00
Half-Time Score: 1-0
Full Time Score: 1-1
In what could have been our last chance to challenge for promotion, we ended up losing 2 points in a very cruel way. After dominating for long streches, lots of actions was reserved for the last couple of minutes. Bojan Ilic missed a penalty in the 92nd minute and then the referee ordered a penalty against us in the 95th minute for what he judged a handsball. It could have not been harsher on us but at least we can now play our remaining matches with less pressure and more youths being introduced in the side. We now hope that after this season's ups and downs, next year we will be ready to challenge more for promotion and hopefully end up on the winning side.
We had two regular players for this match as both Peter Gatt and Mark Galea were suspended. Jose Borg and Liam Mangion were chosen to replace them and Neville Arpa started instead of Ryan Calleja.
The match was in our hands in the opening stages and Bojan Ilic hit the crossbar after 22 minutes with a well-taken shot. We had a couple of more chances but we opened up the score after 38 minutes by our prolific scorer John Stivala. We then had Mark Psaila sent off just before half-time for retaliation and so we had to play the whole second hald with 10 men.
The second half was again under our control but their keeper managed to keep at bay out strikers with a couple of good saves. Action was reserved for the final minutes then when we were awarded a penalty after a foul on Bojan Ilic. Bojan himself took the penalty but their keeper managed to parry it. We paid severly for this lost chance as the referee mysteriously judged Jose Borg's conrol as a handsball and they managed to equalise in the final minute.
P.Said, S.Grima, M.Tabone (O.Lombardi), J.Borg, S.Falzon, L.Mangion, N.Arpa (L.Lombardi), M.Mangion, J.Stivala (J.Farrugia), B.Ilic, M.Psaila
Subs not used: R.Cini, K.Coleiro, N.Buttigieg, R.Calleja