Spirited Senglea march on

Senglea Athletic 2
Mosta 1

A brave Senglea outfit yesterday defied all odds to halt Mosta's positive run and re-launch their promotion charge with a remarkable performance that drew them rich dividends after having a player sent off when trailing by a goal in the first half.

The game started at a very low pace with both teams looking to avoid conceding a goal rather than moving upfield to try and score one themselves. It was clear at that stage that the two defensive set-ups were doing a lot of covering to the extent that most of play was resulting in midfield.

In fact, the first real threat at goal saw Mosta taking the lead in the 23rd minute. Philip Camilleri stole possession outside the Senglea box, dribbled an opponent before firing an unstoppable drive past the helpless George Attard.

Senglea momentarily lost their plot but could have been awarded a penalty in the 35th minute for a charge on substitute Kenneth Abela following a Malcolm Tirchett cross. The referee thought the challenge was fair.

The Cottonera team's woes were compounded eight minutes from half-time when Tirchett was sent off for an altercation with an opponent in the Mosta wall before a free-kick was taken.

Everyone expected Mosta to run the show after the break but it was Senglea who darted forward with great determination in search of an equaliser despite their numerical handicap.

Abela had a shot going just wide and then he failed to make contact to an inviting Darren Grech cross inside the Mosta box. Mosta almost got the killer goal in the 54th minute when Asciak, put through by Chibueze, saw his shot excellently saved by Senglea's no.1 Attard.

The Blues were finding it hard to control their spirited opponents and it came as no surprise on 62 minutes when Abela headed home past Farrugia to make it one-all from a McKay free-kick.

Mosta lost much of their flair now and 20 minutes from time Senglea claimed they had another penalty in favour when Okonkwo barged into Abela as the swift striker was heading for goal.

The referee, quite harshly, said there was no infringement in the action but Abela was injured and had to be substituted.

Senglea still pressed hard for a winner. Spiteri hit the Mosta bar from a corner six minutes from time but then the Cottonera side scored the goal that mattered.

Agius handled the ball inside his own box. This time a penalty was inevitable. From the spot Aquilina gave his team three priceless points as Mosta were left dangerously hovering just above the drop zone.

Senglea: G. Attard, M. Tirchett, T. Ghirxi, D. Aquilina, S. Aquilina, L. McKay, E. Bobolayefa, G. Bonello (K. Abela, T. Thomas), D. Grech (G. Magri), E. Azzopardi, R. Spiteri.

Mosta: M. Farrugia, P. Sciriha, P. Vassallo (P. Zammit), D. Okonkwo, R. Asciak, R. Newell, I. Chibueze, I. Bilocca, B. Agius, B. Galea (M. Borg), P. Camilleri.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

San Gwann 0
Gozo FC 0

Gozo FC had a good chance to break their duck and register their first victory of the season. But from the penalty spot, late in the game, Anthony Portelli saw San Gwann goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo diving to his right to save the shot.

This was perhaps the Gozitans' best showing so far as they embarked on a difficult second-round mission to avoid the drop after a poor first half of the campaign left them firmly anchored in bottom place.

Luck did not smile on Patrick Vassallo's team. After sustaining an early San Gwann pressure, which could have yielded a goal to Andrew Decesare, Cristiano de Oliveira saw his insidious execution from a free-kick beating the Saints barrier but not the crossbar which stopped the Gozitans from taking the lead.

But it was San Gwann who dictated matters most until the break and twice missed ideal scoring chances.

First Chris Cuschieri shot straight at the Gozitan keeper's safe hands and then Decesare hit wide after a fine move with Zammit Fava.

The 'visitors' had another free-kick from outside Bartolo's box on the half-hour mark. This time, Brian Meilaq's delivery was headed just over by the unmarked De Oliveira.

San Gwann were looking to lift their position and get back into the promotion race. They started the second half on attack. A Decesare cross from the left caused havoc inside the Gozo box. Franco Magrin failed to clear but Mark Psaila fumbled a clear chance with a weak shot.

Gozo were playing a prudent match but late in the match they ventured out more often and 11 minutes from time they thought they could win the match. Silvan Galea was sent tumbling inside the box by Luke Vella Critien and the referee awarded them a penalty.

Portelli took the shot from the spot but Bartolo showed some fine reflex instincts when parrying the penalty to the despair of the Gozo FC clan.

San Gwann: M. Bartolo, K. Micallef (W. Mallia), K. Loughbor-ough, L. Vella Critien, S. Vella, W. Spiteri, C. Cuschieri (C. Gatt), S. Zammit Fava, J. Achockwu (R. Penza), M. Psaila, A. Decesare.

Gozo FC: M. Mercieca, B. Meilaq, F. Camilleri (A. Baldacchino), A. Tramboo, P. Camilleri, M. Portelli, F. Magrin, C. De Oliveira, S. Galea, A. Portelli (D. Attard), J. Camilleri (J. Attard).

Referee: Adrian Casha.