Roling Over
Aborted Vacation
Alcántara's recalling of several players from their post-season break sent ripples of dissent into Grilled's squad, but at least they acquitted themselves professionally with a neat four-nil beating of Roli Red Bulls in the friendly return leg, staged in Ghawdex.
No explanation was forthcoming on why Stanton found himself at right-back, and the Eurasian midfielder in return had little to do with
Clair Harlow's clean sheet as he went through the motions. Local winger Reno Lautier made plenty of inroads on Stanton, but Bona overcompensated with his masterful command of the middle.
Borup kept up his fine goal run as he luxuriated in Grilled's pair of quality forwards soaking up all the attention, and pounced instinctively when Paullin stopped the ball dead on a long run and crossed the ball short with his weaker foot. Baldacchino wasn't expecting the firebolt that Borup aimed at the far post.
Martinsson had no such luck as he looked a deserved scorer with a screamer headed for the same corner, as this time Baldacchino was prepared and fisted it out two-handed. He kept up the confusion nicely by constantly interchanging with Langeland, and was rewarded five minutes later as he popped up behind Filletti to nip a cheap shot.
Langeland and Martinsson could have made it four by the interval, but they missed by inches on two seperate occassions. First, Langeland's arching lob went into the bar despite having bounced once, and later Martinsson shrugged off two defenders baying at his heels only to see his wicked drive thunder out off the base of the post.
The home fans didn't seem to take the contest too seriously, and feted both sides in good spirit. The Bulls guarded their turf jealously, and though having ninth-tenths of possession Grilled could not impose martial law on them. Finally, Falkbo took time off his normal duties to rampage up the left in the final ten minutes, and although his effort again brushed the woodwork it spurred a late, late charge.
Finnish sweeper Pentti Luukas' hurried clearance fell to Han Kok on the halfway line, and the crafty youngster spread it out wide to
Au-Yong Siu-Yue who sighted Martinsson alone on the other side of the field. Siu-Yue impressed with a perfectly judged centering for Martinsson to bump it in.
Langeland redeemed what was otherwise a pretty miserable afternoon where he did everything but score, as Siu-Yue again found the sweet spot. Spirig went up for it but could only get the barest of contacts, which was just as well as it skipped onwards to Langeland's right foot. Han Kok looked half-relieved as it was his recent gaffe which indirectly led to the fastbreak.
