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Naxxar Lions FCīs senior and U/19 squads started Season 2009/2010 on the 13th of July with a playersī meeting held at the clubīs premises.
The meeting was addressed by Mr Dione Drago, club secretary, Mr Alex Delia, head coach and Mr Michael Zammit Tabona, the clubīs president. This season, all Naxxar players loaned out in previous years, have returned to the clubīs fold. Players like Ramon Schembri, Glen Magri and Gilbert Camilleri will definitely strengthen the club in itīs bid to regain higher status in the local football scene.
Pre-season training sessions, which started on the 15th of July, have so far been regularly attended by a consistent number of players who have also participated in two friendly matches held on the 30th of July and on the 4th of August. All available players were utilised and given the chance to demonstrate their skills.
The first match played at the Corradino Hockey Complex against fellow third division team Mtarfa FC finished 2-0 in favour of our lads. Naxxar fielded mostly U/19 players save for goalkeeper Kevin Agius who was substituted in the second period by Ryan Marmara, on trial with the club for this match. Coach Delia made use of the follwing players for this match: K Agius (R Marmara), J Bilocca (M Calleja), K Drago, C Dingli, A Spiteri (K Farrugia), A Fenech (S Borg Cardona), G Sant (A Bartolo), A Del Negro (A Farrugia), M Del Negro, R Sammut, D Falzon (M Sant) - (Scorers: R Sammut, A Farrugia; H.T. 0-0).
Our team played itīs second game against more quoted opposition Mellieha FC four days later at the latterīs newly laid synthetic turf pitch. Mellieha FC, an experienced second division team with seasoned players, induced our coach to include his share of experienced players for this match. He opted for the following formation: B Attard, A Catania (A Farrugia), R Schembri, M Spiteri Gonzi (M Del Negro), J Agius, K Fenech, V Bellia, T Fenech, G Magri (J Balzan), A Fenech (D Falzon), A Bartolo (D Dimech). Naxxar started the game with the right intensity creating some good combination play upfront and going close on a couple of occasions. However it was Mellieha who opened the score around the half hour with a fine shot from outside the area straight to Attardīs top corner. Naxxar reacted brilliantly scoring the equaliser on the brink of half-time with a gem of a goal from Andy Bartolo after a one-two exchange with Adrian Fenech. After the break, Mellieha went ahead immediately with a scrappy goal after the Naxxar rearguard failed to clear. This goal did nothing to deter our boys who once again pushed forward for an immediate equaliser. After a serious of missed chances, a couple of which were more easy to score than to miss, Glen Magri restored the balance. Bellia played an intelligent splitting through pass to Magri who after a diagonal run from the flank, received, shielded, and clinically slotted the ball home. The home side scored again against the run of play when Naxxar inappropriately lost possession in their defending half paving the way for Mellieha to score their third and winning goal. The Lions tried hard to get even once again going close through shots by Dylan Dimech and Victor Bellia. However the score remained unchanged with Mellieha winning 3-2 (H.T. 1-1).
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