Saturday 15th November 2008
St.
Patrick 1 - 0
Rabat Ajax
[BOV First Division - First Round]
Formation: - Jonathan Azzopardi, Neil Caruana, Josef Tonna (cpt), Joseph Caruana, Adam Smeir, Michael Micallef (Paolo Ciantar), Christopher Schembri, Glenn Magri, Emmanuel Muscat (Kayne Said), Lydon Micallef (Dalton Wingfield), Edward Azzopardi.
Scorers: Gatt (St. Patrick)
Referee: Chris Lautier
Rabat Ajax started there First Division campaign on a bad note as they were defeated 1-0 by St. Patrick in the opening match. Rabat lacked the suspended Jonathan Bezzina and also another four players who were injured; Darren Galea, Adrian Mifsud and Alan Zahra. Michael Micallef and Joseph Caruana made it with Gerada's first eleven although not 100% fit.
Youngster Neil Caruana made a rare start for the Magpies in the heart of the Rabat defence and had a very good performance while Dalton Wingfield was also included as a sub.
Getting back to the match, Rabat had a very disappointing first half
but recovered well in the second half but still the scoring problem
was once again a main issue for Rabat's setbacks.
Beppe Muscat had his effort cleared off the line just after one minute
for the yellows while Rabat replied in the ninth minute with an Edward
Azzopardi free-kick which almost surprised the Zabbar goaler. Azzopardi
was called to save on Thomas Caruana in the 13th minute and once again
a few minutes later Caruana saw his shot ending wide. In the 22nd minute
Peter Anizoba headed just wide and two minutes just before the break
St. Patrick scored the winning goal. A good cross from Inguanez was
met well with Daniel Gatt's header which left Azzopardi with nothing
to do. In the 65th minute Adam Smeir's free-kick ended just wide. Smeir
was again threatened the Zabbar defence but his shot was deflected to
a corner kick. Then Glen Magri had the best opportunity to equalize
for the Magpies when firing wide just in front of goal following a Rabat
free kick. Josef Tonna was sent off for Rabat in the 85th minute and
Fleri Soler was also sent off for St. Patricks a few minutes later.
Rabat will now meet St. George's next Sunday. Certainly much more
improvement will be expected from the Magpies.