Saints clinch it at the last minute to go top again

St Patrick 2
Tarxien Rainbows 1

A last-minute penalty, scored by substitute Silvio Sciberras, gave St Patrick a vital win to leapfrog Lija Athletic in the standings and go top again, staying on course for Premier League football next season.

This was no easy win for the Saints as Tarxien were thwarted by the heroics of St Patrick goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi.

The early stages of the game were uneventful. In the 22nd minute a Gordon Failla free-kick almost deceived the Tarxien goalie as St Patrick looked the team who were playing the more constructive football.

But Tarxien opened the score against the run of play on 32 minutes. A Gordon Mallia corner was firmly headed in by Simon Shead, back after serving a one-match ban.

Bobby Giorev's side reacted immediately and equalised nine minutes later. Anizoba's shot was repelled by Valastro but from the rebound Mark Tanti was on hand to hit home.

The second half was a different proposition.

Tarxien should have regained their lead on resumption. On 48 minutes Shead was pushed in the Saints' area and the referee did well to award a penalty. Alan Guazzo shot from the spot but Azzopardi guessed the right way to save.

On 52 minutes a Robert Cassar drive was kept out by Valastro and two minutes later the Saints went close again when Gordon Failla found Anizoba whose drive was saved again by the Italian goalkeeper.

Tarxien responded on 55 minutes with an Okoro header, which Azzopardi saved with difficulty.

The game continued on a fast pace and on 62 minutes, Gordon Failla's perfect pass found Alan Galea free but the Saints striker was unlucky to flick wide.

In the 70th minute Tarxien, seeking desperately to get out of the red zone, had a Manwel Caruana free-kick stopped by Azzopardi. Two minutes later Anizoba's fast pace left the Tarxien rearguard for dead, crossed for Tanti whose shot just missed the target.

Tarxien were unlucky not to forge ahead again when a weak Testaferrata drive beat Azzopardi but luckily for the Saints there was Clayton Failla on the line to hook the ball away.

A minute from time, Mallia was spotted handling the ball inside his box and from the ensuing penalty Sciberras, who replaced Alan Galea, did not miss.

Deep into stoppage time, Tarxien almost snatched a point when a Schembri free-kick was met by Shead whose header graced the crossbar.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, L. Bartolo (C. Failla), R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg, M. Zerafa, D. Gauci, A. Galea (S. Sciberras), M. Tanti (M. Pullicino), G. Failla, P. Anizoba, T. Caruana.

Tarxien: M. Valastro, M. Farrugia, E. Saliba, M. Schembri, M. Caruana (B. Testaferrata), G. Mallia, S. Shead, A. Guazzo, D. O'Flaherty (A. Bonello), E. Farrugia, M. Okoro.

Referee: J.R. Attard.

Marsa 2
Mosta 2

Marsa threw away what would have been a useful victory in the very last stages of the match as Mosta must start winning matches if they want to make a quick return to the top flight. Had this match been a boxing bout, then relegation-troubled Marsa would have won it hands down on points.

In Gilbert Martin Marsa have a promising player. If he keeps his feet firmly on the ground this young lad could become the star of the future.

Mosta immediately took the lead after nine minutes when Stefan Farrugia took a superb free-kick that flew into the net with Jason Cordina left helpless.

Marsa had a good chance to equalise soon after when from an Alan Mifsud free-kick Mosta keeper Charles Sciberras was on the right spot to turn to corner.

A Martin flick finished just wide of the far post but Mosta were unlucky not to go 2-0 up on 34 minutes when a Camenzuli cross was headed against the bar by Ryan Newell.

A minute before the break, Martin missed a sitter when lobbing over the bar after Pio Sciriha had slipped in his own half.

Marsa were the better team after the interval. On 48 minutes Lee Grima, another key player in the Marsa squad, had his shot saved by Sciberras and seven minutes later Gatt's sizzling drive from the edge of the area whizzed past the post.

Mosta were finding life difficult with Marsa attacking from all sides. On 59 minutes, Martin released Tarek and the bustling forward buried the ball home - 1-1.

Marsa sensed that they could go on and win it. On 62 minutes, Martin was at the end of a Tarek pass but Sciberras saved well on the nippy Marsa striker.

Ilir Pelinku's side took the lead in the 66th minute when from a fast counter-attack Martin tapped the ball easily home.

One expected Mosta to react but Marsa continued to push men forward. On 79 minutes, Martin's run beat the Mosta rearguard, he even dribbled the goalkeeper but lost control when almost through.

Four minutes from time Grima's lob looked to have deceived Sciberras but his height stood him in good stead to stop the ball from reaching the net.

A minute from time, Mosta equalised when from a speculative ball up front, Ives Bilocca rode his luck before speeding away from the Marsa defence to score.

Marsa: J. Cordina, J. Buttigieg, D. Vella, R. Bonnici, A. Mifsud, L. Grima (R. Micallef), M. Corbolan (N. Zarb Cousin), G. Martin, D. Gatt, I. Tarek (J. Casha), S. Eboh.

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

Referee: Clayton Pisani.