Mosta win promotion after trouncing San Gwann

Mosta 6
San Gwann 0

After a three-year absence, Mosta returned to Premier League football thanks to a five-star display against San Gwann at the Hibs Ground yesterday.

After a shaky start, with San Gwann seizing the initiative and going close on a couple of occasions, Mosta started to hammer their opponents' rearguard from all angles, particularly from the left where Dyson Falzon's surging runs often left the likes of Stacy Vella and Chris Agius chasing shadows.

Mosta needed all three points from this match to secure the second promotion berth and the runners-up spot behind championship winners Hamrun Spartans.

Coach Paul Zammit's strength yesterday was the deployment of a three-man attack with Falzon leading the charge alongside Ives Bilocca and Ikechukwu Chibueze.

They were aided by veteran Roderick Asciak and Ryan Newell, both very much in the picture and behind most of their team's attacking manoeuvres from midfield.

The Mosta defenders also ventured forward in search of goals and that, perhaps, was a risky tactic as they left gaps which Noel Coleiro's team tried to exploit in the early exchanges.

After only a minute's play a Chris Cuschieri drive for San Gwann was saved by Matthew Farrugia. The Saints pressed forward again and on five minutes a searing Achokwu shot just missed Farrugia's goal.

Mosta's first goal-scoring opportunity came in the sixth minute when an Asciak cross into the path of Chibueze was intercepted in time by Franklin Axisa who rushed out of his goal to retrieve the ball.

The Blues were enjoying the upperhand now. Axisa did well to hold out a Chibueze header from a Falzon corner but on 20 minutes the Saints' fort succumbed.

Chibueze's shot from just inside the box was stopped by Axisa, Agius looked in a good position to clear the loose ball but in rushed Bilocca to hit home from close distance to the delight of the numerous Mosta fans.

Mosta were 2-0 up six minutes later when from another Falzon corner, Sciriha fired the ball past Axisa from 10 metres out.

San Gwann tried to control their opponents' fury only for Mosta to score again just before the break after a Falzon cross-shot had smacked against the upright. From a Chibueze cross, Bilocca rose majestically to head into the net.

Mosta continued to dominate the second half even though they released their feet off the accelerator.

The post again came to the Saints' rescue following a Chibueze shot and soon after the referee awarded Mosta a penalty for an Agius infringement. Chibueze made it 4-0 from the spot.

On 63 minutes defender Jonathan Grech spotted Axisa out of his lines and scored Mosta's fifth goal with a perfect lob from 35 metres.

San Gwann, hampered by the absences of regular players Andrew Decesare and Kevin Loughborough, were a spent force by this time and conceded a sixth goal 11 minutes from time when Nigerian Chibueze advanced unimpeded inside the box before hitting low past Axisa.

In the dying minutes, Bilocca missed a sitter and a chance to round up a hat-trick but that little mattered for the delighted Blues' fans as they celebrated in style at the Hibs Ground. Later on, it was also party time at their home town in Mosta.

Mosta: M. Farrugia (C. Sciberras), P. Sciriha, J. Grech, P. Vassallo, D. Okonkwo (C. Attard), R. Asciak, I. Chibueze, I. Bilocca, B. Agius, D. Falzon, R. Newell (B. Galea).

San Gwann: F. Axisa, L. Vella Critien (C. Felice), S. Vella, S. Zammit Fava, C. Agius, A. Galea, C. Cuschieri, A. Borg (J. Sant), W. Mallia, R. Penza (M. Psaila), J. Achokwu.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Marsa finish on winning note

Marsa 5
Senglea Athletic 4

Marsa ended the season on a good note following a 5-4 win over Senglea. After Mosta's success in the previous fixture, there was little to play for in this match as Senglea lost all hope of forcing a play-off with Mqabba for a place in the Premier League.

As the scoreline indicates, this was an open match with the two teams playing open football and Gilbert Martin shining for Marsa with his skilful play.

Senglea had Simon and David Aquilina missing from their line-up but they also showed they are a good side and perhaps with a few adjustments to the squad next season they could give a better challenge.

Richard Mercieca's Senglea started aggressively and after going close with efforts from Leonid McKay and Edon Bobolayefa, they took the lead on 14 minutes when a Silvio Sciberras free-kick hit the bar and from the rebound Timmy Thomas headed home.

But Marsa equalised three minutes later, Martin hitting home after a through pass from Lee Dino Grima.

The opening half produced little other action and no more goals but five minutes after the break Warren Grech was on the right spot in the Senglea box to head the ball in from a free-kick.

Michael Molzahn's team was now playing some delightful one-touch football and it was no surprise when the score became 3-1 on 64 minutes after Grima drove the ball home from close in.

Senglea's hopes of saving the match were kept alive by a 68th-minute goal from Sciberras. The same player then delivered a perfect cross for Bobolayefa to head the ball past substitute Elvin Attard in the Senglea goal - 3-3.

Nine minutes from time Marsa regained the lead thanks to a superb Martin goal from a free-kick. Senglea ran out of energy and suffered a fifth goal when man-of-the-match Martin released Grima who had the easiest of tasks to score.

Right on the stroke of time Thomas shot a firm grounder past Attard to make the score more respectable for Senglea.

This goal was the last of the 2004/05 championship.

Marsa: R. Spiteri (E. Attard), D. Vella, A. Mifsud, L.D. Grima, K. Farrugia, G. Martin, S. Cutajar, R. Bonnici, B. Zammit, W. Chircop (I. Borg), J.P. Zammit (R. Micallef).

Senglea: G. Attard, G. Bonello, G. Magri (L. Vella), K. Abela, R. Spiteri (B. Zerafa), T. Thomas, E. Bobolayefa, L. McKay, E. Azzopardi, D. Grech (B. Degiorgio), S. Sciberras.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.