Heavy defeat for Under-18 side to Northern Ireland

The Malta Under-18 national team suffered a heavy 0-6 defeat to Northern Ireland in the first of two friendly matches at the MFA Training Grounds on Wednesday.

This game marked the debut of coach Antonio Jose Cardoso Mendes who was appointed as Malta Under-19 coach earlier this year. Also making his first appearance for Malta was Portsmouth winger Alfie Bridgman.

Aaron Wrightman put Northern Ireland ahead on the half hour and four minutes later, Jamie McDonnell doubled the score.

Charlie Lindsay increased the lead four minutes in the second half and the same player added aanother on the 57th. Substitute Callum Marshall extended the lead on the 70th minute with the same player adding another nine minutes later.

Photo courtesy of www.stephengatt.com / Malta FA

MALTA Karl Sargent, Ivin Farrugia (Sven Xerri 76), Benjamin Hili (Tristan Viviani 76), Jake Micallef, Mattias Ellul (Nathan Cross 76), Lucas Caruana (Daniel Letherby 65), Andrew Borg, Jake Vassallo (Matteo Gambin 75), Alfie Bridgman (Zak Barbara 65), Brooklyn Borg (Shaisen Attard 65), Sean Gatt (Jamie Scerri 65).

NORTHERN IRELAND Pierce Charles, Aaron Wrightman (Josh Roney 57), Matthew Carson (Sam Glenfield 79), Michael Forbes, Ruairi McConville (Callum Wilson 67), Darren Robinson (Reece Jordan 79), Makenzie Kirk (Ryan Donnelly 79), Jamie McDonnell, Conor Falls (Patrick Kelly 59), Conor Scannell (Callum Marshall 59), Charlie Lindsay.

Referee: Joseph Scerri