League Play-Off

Tal-Ħandaq
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Christopher Pullicino Orlando started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Cedric Gottschalk managed to get in a good position for a shot. Manoel Island's supporters rose to their feet, but Cedric Gottschalk was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kyle Jaccarini breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After having played for 6 minutes, Jonathan Refalo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. AC Trampi's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jonathan Refalo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Samuel Warrington during the 14th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Samuel Warrington kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. Jonathan Refalo scored 1-0 in the 16th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Xandru Barbara, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 20 minutes into the game, Manoel Island's Cedric Gottschalk nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Kyle Jaccarini made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Cedric Gottschalk fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kyle Jaccarini having to interfere. Cedric Gottschalk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Manoel Island's Christopher Pullicino Orlando got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Christopher Pullicino Orlando sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 32 played minutes AC Trampi got a freekick which was hit by Samuel Warrington. Manoel Island's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tommy Tufignio in the 36th minute. The corner led Manoel Island's Tommy Tufignio to fire away a dangerous shot which Kyle Jaccarini despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 44 minutes into the match, Manoel Island's goalkeeper Xandru Barbara had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jonathan Refalo. Kyle Jaccarini showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Christopher Pullicino Orlando, who was totally free with the ball in the 48th minute. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Alexander Cilia to strike the kick off in the second half. Cedric Gottschalk blasted a shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Kyle Jaccarini having to make a save. Cedric Gottschalk might have been able to make a better finish in the 62nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Kyle Jaccarini. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cedric Gottschalk ran back to his position shaking his head. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Christopher Pullicino Orlando in the 64th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Kyle Jaccarini saved AC Trampi from getting behind. When Samuel Warrington was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 65 minutes had been played. Christopher Pullicino Orlando recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Christopher Pullicino Orlando in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Kyle Jaccarini saved AC Trampi from getting behind. 72 minutes into the match, AC Trampi's goalkeeper Kyle Jaccarini had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cedric Gottschalk. After having played for 74 minutes, Herbert Bajo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. AC Trampi's supporters crossed their fingers, but Herbert Bajo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Manoel Island's Tommy Tufignio got a free kick in the 76th minute. The audience was convinced that Christopher Pullicino Orlando's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Kyle Jaccarini was relentless in the 87th minute of the game. In the 90th minute Jonathan Refalo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xandru Barbara saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 97th minute Francis Crockford suffered a foot injury and had to be helped off the field. After 97 minutes, Herbert Bajo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AC Trampi and the Manoel Island players grew even worse after the yellow card. Cedric Gottschalk's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Kyle Jaccarini firmly grabbed it by the left post. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.