Season 2007/08 Review

As the new season, is approaching, www.mostafc.com is going to take a look about the season which finished last May. The season which ended in despair with a defeat in the decider clash against Qormi.

June 2007 – The Beginning

The new committee was formed during the Annual General Meeting. Charles Abela was confirmed as President and announced that the club has officially reached an agreement with three players, Gozitan Elton Vella, Antoino Saliba and Mark Galea. Michael Molzahn and Vincent Carbonaro were also confirmed for another season.

Ryan Newell was released from Mosta.

The Commitee

July 2007 –  Preparation for the new season gets underway

Transfer Market opens as Pre-Season training began. The Club announced the signing of Charles Sciberras, Daniel Theuma, Jonathan Debono, Melvin Farrugia and Claude Carbonaro on loan while Marsa Striker Gilbert Martin was signed on permanent basis. Ivo Ginev was undergoing a trial with the Blues.

Jonathan Debono Mosta's Goalkeeper

August – Friendlies gets underway

The first friendly for the new season came in the beginning of August when the Blues faced St’Venera Lightings to end in 1-1 draw. The Gammari Muscat Mosta tournament was the next for the Blues, winning against Mgarr United 1-0 and Gharghur 4-0 and was hold by Lija Athletics in a goalless draw.  

Bryan Agius goes on loan with Valleta, Chris Tabone and Brian Galea join Dingli, Lydon Cilia joins Lija, Ives Bilocca joins Balzan Youths while Matthew Borg went to neighbors Mgarr United.

Ivo Ginev signs for Mosta.

Ivo Ginev Mosta's foreigner till January

Best Goal of the Month: Daniel Theuma’s free kick against Gharghur. Theuma stunned the Gharghur custodian with a fine curling free kick.

September – Preparation for new season coming to an end

The Blues played another 3 friendlies during this month winning against B’Buga 1-0 and English side 12-0 and losing to Sliema 4-0. Injuries were crucial in this month as the Blues had both Elton Vella and Gilbert Martin suffering from hamstring and groin injuries respectively.

Best Goal of the Month: Pio Vassallo’s shot from outside the box against B’Buga. The Blues won the match by this single goal.

October – League Campaign gets underway

October was the best month of the season. The Blues won their first three matches in the month of October to go top. The Blues won easily against Dingli 4-0 but this was not the case against Vittoriosa as the Blues won 1-0 with a last minute penalty. The Blues won 2-0 against St’Patrick’s to get maximum points from the first three games.

Best Goal of the Month: Daniel Theuma’s free kick against Dingli from way out.

November 2007 – First Defeats

The Blues lost twice in November and were eliminated from the FA Trophy losing against Hamrun Spartans 2-0. This game saw the ending of Charles Sciberras career as he had to leave the pitch with a cruciate ligament injury.

The Moment which Charles Sciberras injured the cruciate ligaments

Youngster Christian Sant made his debut with the Blues.

 The Blues lost 2-1 against Senglea to suffer the second consecutive defeat of the season.

Best Goal of the Season: Steve Borg’s penalty had grabbed a momentary equalizer but this was enough to save the game.

December 2007 – Year ends with defeat

The Blues played only one game in this month and lost 3-0 against Marsa in the worst outcome of the season. This defeat saw the ending of Ivo Ginev’s career with the Blues.

Starting Line-Up against Marsa

January 2008 – New Year, new players join the Blues

The Blues had signed Massimo Grima on the first day of the January transfer market. His debut came against Tarxien Rainbows in a goalless draw. Gilbert Martin and Claude Carbonaro undergo doping tests after this game.

The Blues bounced back to winning ways against St’George’s 2-0. Gilbert Martin scored a brace for the Blues. The Qormi game was the next for the Blues, a game which saw the Blues going down twice and regains level. The game finished 3-3.

The Blues won against Mellieha 2-1 which saw the debut of Congolese Ndayi Kalenga.

Nicky Gatt and Luke Attard arrived for the Blues during the January transfer market. James Borg and Carl Attard joins Mgarr United for the rest of the season.

Best Goal of the Month: Elton Vella’s goal against Mellieha. A screamer from outside the box which left the Mellieha custodian helpless. A stunning and unstoppable shot.

February 2008 – Second Round gets underway

Mosta FC Committee reaches agreement with Government for the project of the Mosta Ground.

The Blues began their second round as they ended the first, winning against Dingli 2-0 and 2-1 against Vittoriosa. They were vital wins for the Blues to keep up with the Promotion race.

Best Goal of the Month: Carlos Camenzuli against Vittoriosa. The goal came in injury time when teenager Sant lofted a wonderful cross in the path of Camenzuli to rose high and slot home the momentary equalizer.

 March 2008 – Superb March, Superb Blues

Another two wins against relegation battlers St’Patrick’s 1-0 and promotion contenders Senglea 3-1. The Blues were winning game after game and interest for Promotion was increasing day by day. Mosta were prime favourites for Promotion

Best goal of the Month: Massimo Grima’s goal against Senglea. A great counter attack finished by a screamer by Grima to seal the issue for the Blues.

April 2008 – The Month to win Promotion!!

This was the month where the Blues could have won Promotion. The win against relegation battlers Marsa was the first test which the Blues passed. The Blues opened a five point margin. Luke Attard made his debut for the Blues coming in as a substitute.

Mosta eliminate Mellieha by 2 goals to nil to go through to the First Division Knock Out Semi Final.      

The next two games were vital and more difficult. Tarxien and St’George’s were the next. The Blues lost the game against the Rainbows 1-0 in a game where the equalizer was coming in one moment or another but never arrived. Promotion race was opened again.

The next game the Blues had to meet St’Georges and lost another important two points finishing 2-2.

Best goal of the Month: Ndayi Kalenga level goal against St’George’s which left the Blues with a chance to win Promotion.

May 2008 – Final Games, Tension Increase Games Reduce

With two games left, the Blues had to pass the two final tests. The first test was the big test. A win means Premier, a defeat means Promotion race is over and a draw could see the two teams play again in a decider. The Blues were winning 2-0 at half time and Promotions was just 45 minutes away but in football, expect the unexpected. Two goals in three minutes were enough for Qormi to draw level.

The last game for the Blues came against Mellieha were the Blues won 3-0 to play in a decider match against Qormi.

The Decider was approaching, supporters were preparing everything to give their best support for their boys in Blue. Friday 23rd May the day arrived, at the National Stadium a numerous Mosta supporters came to support the boys. The game finished 0-0 after extra time and the lottery of penalties had to be taken. The Blues lost the game and promotion 4-3 on penalties, with Antonio Saliba (wide) and Elton Vella(saved). The season ended in despair for the boys and their supporters.

The Knock out was next. The Blues had to face Dingli Swallows with a very low morale after losing against Qormi. The Blues lost 2-1 and were eliminated. Lyden Micallef made his debut for Mosta coming on the last minutes of the game

Best Goal of the Month: Steve Borg goal against Qormi. His shot was too strong for ex-Farrugia. A rising shot which left him helpless.

Mosta Supporters in Action during the Season

Mosta Supporters in Decider Clash