No inroads as promotion aspirants share spoils

Lija Athletic 1
St Patrick 1

Promotion aspirants Lija Athletic and St Patrick shared the honours in a 1-1 draw that was marked by three penalties, one sending-off and some controversial decisions by referee Marco Borg.

The Saints may feel hard done by the drawn outcome as Patrick Muscat looked to have given them the three points with a 'goal' 10 minutes from time. The referee, however, failed to apply the advantage rule when Muscat was pulled by an opponent inside the box and awarded the Zabbar side a penalty instead.

The game was a balanced affair with St Patrick having the better chances only to be thwarted by in-form Lija goalkeeper Simon Agius.

After 16 minutes, Nigerian Peter Anizoba fed Alan Galea on the right flank, the latter's cross was turned goalward by St Patrick striker Mark Tanti but Agius pulled off a fine reflex save to deny the Saints an opener.

Four minutes later, St Patrick threatened again through a Galea cross-shot which was kept out by the Lija goalkeeper.

Four minutes from half-time, St Patrick's Gordon Failla unleashed a drive which ended over the crossbar and moments later, the same player just missed the target following a free-kick action.

After the restart, Bobby Giorev's men continued to apply the pressure and were unfortunate not to break the deadlock on 56 minutes.

A cross by Tanti reached Muscat who fired a shot that was saved by Agius. Anizoba's follow-up was cleared off the line and another attempt by Muscat was deflected by an overworked Lija defence.

Three minutes later, Lija created their first real chance when Paul Camilleri supplied a pass to Glenn Barry whose strike was saved by Franklin Azzopardi, the St Patrick goalkeeper.

Lija's attacking momentum picked up and 22 minutes into the second half, they came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Barry zipped his way into the Saints' defence but his effort took a deflection off Michael Zerafa, with Azzopardi caught off balance, but the ball hit the crossbar.

Relieved by this close shave, St Patrick drew first blood three minutes later. Lija defender Giles Lanzon looked to have nudged Anizoba inside the box, prompting referee Borg to point to the spot. Tanti shot home from the 11-metre mark to put St Patrick in the driving seat.

More drama unfolded six minutes later. St Patrick's Michael Zerafa challenged Lija substitute Manolito Micallef inside his area and Borg awarded the penalty. Lanzon's perfect strike gave Azzopardi no chance.

The excitement continued as ten minutes from time, Muscat looked to have given St Patrick a legitimate lead which was denied by the referee after the Saints' striker was pulled by a Lija defender on the point of shooting the ball home. This time, Tanti's effort from the penalty spot was saved by Agius who kept his side in the game.

Seven minutes from the end, St Patrick defender Arnold Buttigieg was lucky not to see red after he fouled the goalbound Camilleri.

In the meantime, Muscat continued to protest with the referee over his disallowed goal and was shown the red card for dissent.

LIJA A.: S. Agius, D. Okeke, S. Ciscaldi, G. Lanzon, R. Mifsud (M. Vella), D. Scerri, G. Camenzuli (M. Micallef), G. Barry, R. Grech, P. Camilleri, D. Cosaitis.

ST PATRICK: F. Azzopardi, P. Muscat, P. Anizoba, A. Buttigieg, M. Zerafa, D. Gauci (S. Sciberras), A. Galea, M. Tanti, G. Failla, C. Failla (L. Bartolo), S. Zerafa.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Senglea Athletic 1
Mosta 1

Mosta and Senglea gathered a point apiece after their encounter ended 1-1, a fair result which should increase interest in the race for promotion to the Premier League.

The injured Dyson Falzon was sorely missed by Mosta who had Roderick Asciak and Pio Vassallo in fine fettle yesterday.

Senglea also had their bright moments during the match, thanks mainly to Alan Spiteri who again confirmed that he is one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the Division One league.

Together with Timothy Thomas, Spiteri's slick passing and ability to jink past defenders were a highlight of yesterday's game which showed that Senglea and Mosta can be considered to be serious candidates for promotion.

The opening 45 minutes were shared by the two sides who were engaged in a duel for midfield supremacy.

Senglea gained the lead after only three minutes. Pio Sciriha's foul on Thomas in the box led to a penalty which was coolly converted by Simon Aquilina.

Mosta rallied immediately, taking just seven minutes to level matters. Stefan Farrugia concluded a fine solo run with a firm shot that was deflected by a Senglea defender on its way to goal. This was the 200th goal of the competition.

Bolstered by their quick equaliser, Mosta were now dictating matters. Asciak delivered a dangerous shot that brought a fine save from Elvin Attard.

It was Mosta again who ventured forward menacingly on 25 minutes. Ives Bilocca floated a cross towards the centre of the Senglea area, the ball fell into the path of Vassallo whose first-time effort was parried by the alert Attard.

Senglea started the second half in more adventurous mode. On 55 minutes, a Clint Caruana-Frans Dingli one-two created an opening for Thomas whose attempt just missed the target.

Seven minutes later, Senglea should have had a penalty when Spiteri's powerful run took him inside the Mosta box where he was tripped by Ryan Newell but the referee waved play on.

Mosta's reply came 17 minutes from time when a corner by Sciriha was headed by Brazilian substitute Jura Da Silva but the excellent Attard was again well-placed to save. Attard distinguished himself once more when blocking a long-range effort by Vassallo as Mosta finished the match on the offensive.

Veteran Paul Zammit, who had replaced Carlos Camenzuli, headed over the bar after receiving from Asciak in the final stages.

Senglea: E. Attard, D. Grech, S. Aquilina, Tim. Thomas (J. Fsadni), L. Attard, A. Spiteri, L. McKay (A. Bonnici), F. Dingli, C. Caruana, E. Bobolayefa, E. Azzopardi (A. Imbroll).

Mosta: C. Sciberras, P. Sciriha, P. Vassallo, R. Asciak, A. Chetcuti (J. Da Silva), S. Farrugia (M. Agius), C. Camenzuli (P. Zammit), R. Newell, I. Bilocca, J. Grech, B. Galea.

Referee: J.R. Attard.