Qala St Joseph won the first honour of the season for the lower category with a victory in the Sportika KO final over Oratory Youths.  The match was well contested and victory during the regular time could have gone either way. Oratory were undoubtedly the better side during the first period but play became more balanced after the break.  However, Qala took full command of play during extra time and made sure of the victory with a goal scored in each half.

  The Youths came out more aggressive and in the early stages an effort by Joshua Cassar ended wide.  In another occasion Marvin Grech incredibly concluded over the crossbar from a good position following a corner action.  In the 9^th minute Marvin Grech missed the target with a header following another corner action. 

The Youths scored the deserved equalizer on 27 minute through an excellent cross shot by Alex Sacco that surprised goalie Joseph Xerri, with the ball hitting the post before ending in the net.  Five minutes from the break Oratory’s Joshua Cassar entered the area with a personal action but his final shot missed the target.

   In the 2^nd minute of the second period Oratory’s Joseph Grech was released in Qala’s area but the veteran striker missed the moment to conclude in goal.  The two sides started to find it difficult to beat the respective defensive departments and the two goalkeepers were not called to make any difficult intervention.  The best scoring opportunity before the end of regular time arrived to Qala in the 88^th minute when a direct free kick by Mario Mifsud ended just over the crossbar.

  The maroons produced pressure over their opponents from the early stages of extra time.  In the 93^rd minute an effort by Peter Said following a personal action was saved by goalie Franklin Vella and the same goalkeeper was called to make another difficult intervention four minutes later following a strike by Christian Portelli.  In the 98^th minute an effort by Dennis Abela ended wide.  The Saints took the lead on 101 minute through a tap-in by Dennis Abela following a fine move by Peter Said.  Two minutes later Oratory’s goalkeeper was again called to make a difficult save following a free kick by Joseph Xerri.  Oratory’s reply arrived seconds from the end of the first half of extra time though a free kick by Francesco Cini that was neutralized by substitute goalkeeper Kenny Grima.  Qala made sure of the victory with the third goal scored in the first minute of the second half of extra time through an excellent long ranged shot by Mario Mifsud that surprised goalie Vella.  In the 108^th minute an attempt by Dennis Abela ended just wide from Oratory’s goal.  Oratory could have re-opened the issue in the 113^th minute but a shot by Stephen Theuma ended wide.

  After the match the representative of Sportika in Gozo, Mr. Mario Camilleri, presented the trophy to Qala’s captain Glenn Cefai in the presence of GFA Officials and among the joy of the Qala players and supporters.