BNF U15 and U17 Leagues Review: Hibernians and Valletta play out thriller, St Andrews fight back to win

Valletta FC 2-4 Hibernians FC - 06.09.2026 - Photos by Andre Farrugia

BNF U15 League A – Matchday 2

Hibernians FC finished the second matchday in top spot after securing a comfortable and impressive 6-1 win over Mosta FC at the Luxol Stadium, claiming maximum points from two matches.

Hibs started strong, with Alexander Abela putting them in front just five minutes into the game. However, Mosta responded, with Zhuowei Yi equalizing only 10 minutes later. Hibernians took that as a warning sign, and they immediately bounced back, with Nedved Bonello restoring their lead just two minutes after going behind. The Paolites continued to push forward, with Shaylon Lanzon extending their lead before the break, scoring twice, first in the 33rd minute and then in the 42nd minute, making it 4-1.

Mosta shored up their defending at the start of the second half, yet Hibernians were still finding gaps at times. They capitalised late on, as substitutes Jack Farrugia and Zack Chircop Cohen found the back of the net to make it 6-1.

The other team to record maximum points was St Andrews FC, who left it very late to rescue a win over Birkirkara FC at the Sirens Stadium.

The match was filled with action throughout the whole 90 minutes, with Jaan Caruana putting Birkirkara in front in the first half, rifling the ball into the back of the net. However, St Andrews replied immediately after half-time, as Sebastian Farrugia struck to make it 1-1. Moments later, Farrugia was on target again, turning the game around with his second of the match.

Birkirkara did not back down however, as they still pushed in search of a way back into the encounter. Noah Muscat got the equaliser for the Stripes 59 minutes into the encounter. St Andrews replied yet again, with Farrugia once again being the goalscorer, completing his hat-trick in the 72nd minute. However, Birkirkara continued to put the St Andrews defence under increased pressure, and in the 85th minute, goalkeeper Mardeo Zammit was shown a second booking, leaving his side a player down for the final few minutes. From the resulting spot-kick, Scott Said Hollier found the back of the net, levelling the scoring for Birkirkara yet again.

However, there was still another twist in the tale, as three minutes into stoppage time, St Andrews went in front yet again, this time from Matthew Hyzler, sparking wild celebrations. Birkirkara also finished the game with 10 players on the pitch, as Clarence Mifsud was shown a straight red card four minutes into stoppage time.

As a result, St Andrews ended the match with all three points, joining Hibs at the summit of the league.

Another standout result from the matchday was Valletta FC’s incredible 14-0 win over Floriana FC in the derby.

Valletta were in complete control from the very first whistle, with Braydon Muscat scoring a first-half hat-trick, Alex Zammit bagging a brace, while Randall Caruana and Zack Mifsud Triganza all got on the scoresheet to put them 7-0 up at the break.

The Lilywhites’ dominance continued in the second half, as Kayden Mizzi found the back of the net 57 minutes into the game. Caruana completed his hat-trick with two more goals, while Mason Vella got a brace and Nathan Grixti, together with Zain Garrett also scored.

The win catapulted Valletta up to fifth in the table, after getting their first set of three points on the board.

BNF U15 League B – Matchday 2

In the BNF U15 League B, both Fgura United and Gozo FC continued their positive starts to the campaign, securing excellent wins over Naxxar Lions FC and Mellieħa SC, respectively.

Fgura were in fine form on the day, looking much more comfortable than they did in the first matchday. 26 minutes into the encounter, they breached the Naxxar defence, finding the back of the net thanks to Mason Bondin. This was quickly followed up by another goal, once again through Bondin, who beat goalkeeper Kain Bonello to make it 2-0.

Fgura remained in control in the second half, and they continued to mount attack after attack. Adam Scicluna made it 3-0 60 minutes into the game, before Bondin completed his hat-trick just two minutes later. Zane Farrugia added to the scoreline in the 64th minute, before Bondin got on the scoresheet yet again, rounding off a 6-0 win for the Reds in what was a brilliant display at the St Patrick Ground on Saturday.

At the Sirens Stadium, Gozo eased past Mellieħa, showcasing their attacking quality straight away.

Hayden Cassar fired the Gozitans ahead five minutes into the encounter, before doubling their lead in the 18th minute, giving them the perfect start. Their frontline continued to mount pressure on Mellieħa’s defence, and in the 36th minute, Derek Attard extended their lead to three goals.

After the break, Mellieħa shifted their focus to defending and to avoid conceding any more goals. That tactic seemed to work until the very late stages of the game, when Gozo introduced fresh legs into the game. Substitutes Ryan Vella and Sebastian Paul Attard both found the back of the net in the final 10 minutes, making it 5-0 to Gozo.

BNF U17 League A – Matchday 2

Similar what happened in the BNF U15 League A, the same two clubs produced back-to-back wins in the BNF U17 League A, as St Andrews FC and Hibernians FC got their second wins of the season in the bag.

Hibernians were made to work, edging past a strong Valletta FC side, winning 4-2 at the Charles Abela Stadium on Sunday.

Valletta FC 2-4 Hibernians FC - 06.09.2026 - Photo by Andre Farrugia

Kaden Camilleri put the Paolites in front after 10 minutes, yet Valletta responded in the 27th minute, as Kaidan Borg equalised for the Lilywhites with a fine finish. It did not take long for Hibs to restore their lead, as just seconds later, Kristen Camilleri was on target to make it 2-1. Once again, Valletta replied, and this time Ayrem Aquilina was on hand to fire his side level with a cool finish past goalkeeper Noah Mulholland.

After the break, Hibernians looked to assert themselves further, and they went in front again, as a ball was deflected into the Valletta goal by Lee Bonanno. Hibernians utilised this momentum to their advantage, and for the first time in the game, they went two goals up, as captain Kaiden Grixti fired his side 4-2 up in the 60th minute. Hibs saw out the rest of the game, denying Valletta any space and securing the win.

Valletta FC 2-4 Hibernians FC - 06.09.2026 - Photo by Andre Farrugia

Elsewhere, St Andrews had a close encounter against Fgura United, coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Rabat Ajax Ground.

Fgura had the upper hand in the first half, and they found the net first, as Kaiden Ray Spiteri struck to put the Reds ahead 38 minutes into the clash.

St Andrews struggled to recover in the first half, and they went into the break a goal down.

However, the tide shifted after half-time, and St Andrews started to look more fluid in their attacking. They turned the game around in the space of a few minutes. The equaliser came from Giorgio Cristauro in the 65th minute, before midfielder Nicholas Busuttil fired a shot into the back of the net 70 minutes into the encounter, putting St Andrews ahead.

Fgura looked to respond, but they could not do so, and St Andrews came away as 2-1 winners.

The match of the week came at the Dingli Ground, where Floriana FC rescued a point against Mosta FC thanks to two stoppage time goals from Luca Zarb.

Mosta went in front in the early stages of the game, with Max Fenech Adami firing them ahead after 18 minutes. Floriana responded 31 minutes into the encounter, as Fayton Gatt found the back of the net to draw them level. However, it would not last very long, as Fjordi Bardhi put the Blues back in front seconds later. Mosta continued to press forward after the break, and it took them just a few seconds to extend their lead further, with Jamie Borg making it 3-1.

Mosta were cruising at that point, and they were looking set to come away with all three points.

The big shift came late on, when substitute Zarb found the back of the net with a shot in the 91st minute. The Greens were eager to push forward in search of another goal, with Mosta putting everyone back in order to defend their lead. Floriana did find a way through through, as in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Zarb produced a moment of magic, striking the ball past the goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations from the Greens, who managed to rescue a point from unlikely circumstances.

As a result of this dramatic encounter, both sides earned their first points of the campaign, kickstarting their respective seasons.

BNF U17 League B – Matchday 2

In the BNF U17 League B, Melita FC continued their fine start to the season, putting eight past Rabat Ajax FC in a brilliant attacking display on Sunday.

Melita were in excellent attacking form, and they were 2-0 up after just 18 minutes, with Jamie Tanti getting both goals. They continued to push forward, with the Rabat defence struggling to contain Melita’s attacks. 42 minutes into the game, the score became 3-0, with Kyle Falzon getting the goal.

After the break, Melita increased the rhythm of their play even further, and it was 6-0 by the 54th minute, thanks to an own goal from Luca Busuttil, a goal from Sean Gove, and Tanti’s third goal, sealing his hat-trick.

Despite the goals, Rabat were still looking to get a consolation, and they scored twice through their captain, Elan Micallef, midway through the second half, making it 6-2. An own goal from Kelson Lanzon would make it 7-2, before Kyron Farrugia got another goal back for the Magpies to reduce the deficit to four goals again. Late in the match, Matteo Sammut Chambers scored the eighth and final goal for Melita, making it 8-3 in what proved to be a brilliant attacking performance.

Elsewhere, Marsaskala FC also made it two wins from two matches, but their encounter was much tighter than Melita’s, as they edged past Żabbar St Patrick FC 2-0.

The match commenced with both sides having their fair share of the possession, while being unable to break the other’s defence down. The breakthrough eventually came in the 38th minute, when Zaion Camilleri found a rare pocket of space, before firing the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Marsaskala.

Żabbar looked to respond, but they could not find a way through the Marsaskala backline. As the match progressed, with the Saints pushing forward and making more risks in search of an equaliser, they started to leave more gaps defensively. Marsaskala fully capitalised towards the latter stages of the match, and in the 84th minute, Massimo Parrella sealed the victory, scoring to make it 2-0 and ensure three points would be heading to Marsaskala.

The other team to continue their perfect start to the season were Naxxar Lions FC, who beat Luqa St Andrew’s FC 4-1 at the Ghaxaq Ground.

Luqa actually started the match on the front foot, and they got their reward in the 39th minute, when Neil Magro fired them into the lead.

It was in the second half when Naxxar really upped their game. They needed just a few minutes to get back on level terms with Francesco Vella getting the crucial equaliser. They continued to build pressure on Luqa’s defence, and in the 55th minute, they went in front, with Miguel Vella scoring this time around. Jake Vella Galea got the third for the Lions, before Dominik Salafia made it 4-1 very late on.

As a result, Melita, Marsaskala and Naxxar are all tied on six points after two matches, with the three teams enjoying stellar starts to their respective seasons.

For the full results and table standings, check out the Match Centre here.