Monday, 8th March
Bov First Division at the Victor Tedesco Stadium
MQABBA FC 2 MOSTA FC 5 (ht 1-1)
scorers: Mark BRIGGS pen 28, Gilbert MARTIN 46, 70, 79, Terence VELLA 67.
Annihilate is probably too kind a word to describe Gilbert Martin's total destruction of an Mqabba side that did not know what hit them in a match that saw the Blues record their biggest win of the season.
The Blues's diminutive striker scored a brilliant hat-trick, won a penalty that was converted by Mark Briggs for the opener, and teed up Terence Vella for an important third goal that finally killed off Mqabba. Maybe the score of 5-2 flattered Oliver Spiteri's side as Mqabba were always a threat to Debono's goal when they attacked. But this was 'Fulu's' night and as in recent matches he again confirmed that he is back to his brilliant best.
Mqabba could not control his rampaging runs and he was deadly in front of goal. Indeed, the Blues had only six shots on target on the night, of which five hit the back the net and Adrian Borg hit the crossbar near the end!
Mosta started the match brightly with some neat football, but it was Mqabba who created the best chances early on. However it was Mosta who took the lead in the 28th minute when Gilbert Martin was brought down in the box and MARK BRIGGS forgot his miss against St. Patrick as he beat Ellul for the 1-0. But seven minutes later Mqabba were level when JOHN PAUL MUSCAT took advantage of some slack defending by the Mosta rearguard to equalize for Mqabba and go in at half-time on level terms.
With only one minute gone in the second half GILBERT MARTIN burst through the Mqabba defence like a knife through butter and planted the ball in the bottom right-hand corner to give Mosta back the lead. On 57 minutes Mqabba were reduced to ten men when Mauro Bonnici was sent off for hitting out at Gilbert Martin, but three minutes later Mqabba were awarded a penalty when Jonathan Debono and Mark Brincat combined to bring down John Paul Muscat. From the resultant penalty MARTIN ANASTASI levelled the scores at 2-2.
Then Gilbert Martin went full throttle. On 67 minutes he again broke down the right and perfectly crossed for TERENCE VELLA who advanced and shot past Ellul to put Mosta 3-2 up. The match was now in the Blues hands and GILBERT MARTIN scored his second in the 70th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute which proved to be his last kick as he was immediately substituted by Jonathan Bajada.
This was the night that saw the Blues claim a very important three points. But the night belonged to Gilbert Martin, striker supreme at the peak of his powers.
Mosta FC: Jonathan DEBONO, Adrian BORG, Brian GALEA, Luke STIVALA, Mark BRIGGS, Mark BRINCAT cpt, Julian VELLA, Gilbert MARTIN (Jonathan BAJADA 79 min), Lyden MICALLEF (Pio VASSALLO 83 min), Victor OSOBU (Lee GRIMA 54 min), Terence VELLA.
subs not used: Noel ATTARD, Alex CINI, Gianluca VELLA, Damian DELIA.
Yellow Cards: Luke STIVALA, Mark BRINCAT.
Picture right top: Hat-trick hero Gilbert Martin with the three-finger sign just after he was substituted
Picture right bottom: Mosta defend a free-kick by Mqabba's Caushi.
