San Gwann safe after 3-2 win

Naxxar Lions 2
San Gwann 3

San Gwann assured themselves of playing Division One football next season after beating Naxxar Lions and condemning Tarxien to relegation.

The Saints played a gallant game, twice coming back from a goal down before netting the vital winner that earned them survival.

The Lions fashioned the first shot at goal on five minutes. Sixsmith's free-kick from the edge of the penalty area was saved by debutant goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

On 11 minutes, Sciberras should have given San Gwann the lead but his shot went off target.

Naxxar went ahead on 21 minutes when Dozie completely surprised Bartolo with a scorching shot.

But the Saints drew level five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Psaila floored Sciberras in the area and Agius made no mistake from the spot to revive San Gwann's hopes.

However, Naxxar still managed to regain the lead on 35 minutes when Dozie headed home Zammit's corner-kick.

San Gwann refused to throw in the towel and were on level terms just before the interval. The goal owed much to the persistence of Achukwu, who served Decesare who fired the ball home.

Seven minutes into the second half, Dozie almost hit a third but his shot hit the crossbar.

On 58 minutes, Achukwu was unlucky when his grounder just missed the target much to the anguish of the San Gwann clan.

But nine minutes later, the Saints were not denied when Sciberras volleyed the ball home after being set up by Achukwu.

The Saints concentrated their efforts to preserve their lead and their main concern arrived three minutes from time when Camilleri, put through by Dozie, shot wide.

However, that was just a scare as in the end the San Gwann clan could celebrate their salvation.

Naxxar: P. Psaila, P. Sixsmith, R. Schembri, D. Gera, K. Fenech, C. Mifsud (J. Mifsud), R. Spiteri, P. Fenech (G. Camilleri), I. Zammit, S. Muscat, C. Dozie.

San Gwann: M. Bartolo, A. Gatt, J. Farrugia (A. Gambin), T. Saliba, G. Magri, C. Agius, C. Cuschieri (C. Gatt), K. Loughborough, J. Achukwu, K. Sciberras (M. Psaila), A. Decesare.

Referee: K. Azzopardi.

Tarxien Rainbows 3
Rabat Ajax 1

Tarxien needed to beat at all costs bottom-side Rabat Ajax and hope rivals San Gwann fail to beat Naxxar Lions in the following match to try and dodge the drop in their last outing.

But in the end, their win proved futile as the Saints beat the Lions and send the Rainbows to the Second Division.

The absence of top strikers, Simon Shead and Maczerob Okoro, who were suspended, further complicated the Rainbows' task as these players had scored more than half of the Blues' tally this season.

Only pride was at stake for Rabat Ajax as their fate has long been sealed and the once conquerors of Maltese football will have to play in the second division next season.

Struggling Tarxien could not have hoped for a better start as they stormed into the lead after just three minutes. Tarxien's goalkeeper Azzopardi misjudged Schembri's cornerkick and Mangion was at hand to whip the ball into the net.

Mangion nearly added a second on ten minutes but his curling low shot was too weak to beat Azzopardi in goal.

On 39 minutes, Rabat almost equalised but Caruana's shot sailed over the crossbar.

The Rainbows doubled their tally on 51 minutes. Testaferrata drifted into the penalty area and chipped the ball past goalie Azzopardi only for Tonna to divert the effort into his own net for an unfortunate own goal.

Short of the hour, Saliba could have settled the issue but he headed wide after being serves by Testaferrata.

Five minutes later, Rabat reduced the arrears. Zahra flicked a menacing ball inside the penalty area and substitute Smeir towered well to head home.

Tarxien re-established their two goal lead on 76 minutes.

Testaferrata laboured his way inside the penalty area and tested Azzopardi with a low drive.

The custodian could only partially save the ball and the Rainbows' striker was quick to react and slot the ball home.

The celebrations turned sour for Tarxien as Testaferrata was expelled for resorting to a repeated obscene gesture as he celebrated his important goal.

Luckily for him, Rabat failed to react and the Rainbows held on.

Tarxien: M. Vallastro (A. Curmi), G. Cutajar, M. Farrugia, E. Saliba, M. Schembri (D. O'Flaherty), G. Mallia, C. Borg (O. Grech), J. Agius, C. Mangion, E. Farrugia, B. Testaferrata.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi (E. Deguara), E. Muscat (D. Falzon), J. Bezzina, M. Micallef, A. Borg, J. Tonna, C. Schembri (A. Smeir), J. Caruana, A. Zahra, D. Galea, U. Engoya Onesime.

Referee: A. Azzopardi