Marsa, St George's win to maintain unbeaten start

Tarxien Rainbows 2
Marsa 3

Promotion favourites Marsa obtained their second win of the season, beating newly-promoted Tarxien Rainbows by three goals to two in an exciting match.

The initial stages of the game saw both teams cancelling each other out in midfield and both sets of defences coming out on top when tested.

It wasn't before the 24th minute that the first scoring opportunity was registered.

Tarxien's Kurt Zammit delivered a fine cross but Carlos Camenzuli's free header just missed the target.

Two minutes later, a glaring mistake by the Tarxien rearguard presented Marsa with a golden opportunity to take the lead.

There was a misunderstanding between Tarxien goalkeeper Anthony Curmi and defender Eric Saliba, Gilbert Martin flashed through like a bullet to gain possession but was brought down by Curmi.

Referee Paul Caruana instantly pointed to the penalty spot but Curmi made amends for his mistake when diving to his right to save Nikolai Slavtchev's kick.

Tarxien's reaction was immediate. In the 30th minute, Alan Tabone found Camenzuli unmarked in the box but the former Mosta striker's attempt was blocked by Ivan Casha.

Five minutes later, Casha again thwarted Tarxien when blocking a fierce drive by Tabone. Jesmond Zerafa's side were unlucky not to score in the 36th minute when a Tabone cross was headed just wide by Kurt Coleiro.

It took Marsa some time to regain their composure after Slavtchev's missed penalty. They finally responded six minutes before half-time when the quick-moving Meilak hit the woodwork.

The game now became a ding-dong battle with both sides increasing their efforts to find a breakthrough.

Marsa drew first blood just before the break when, from a Martin corner, Saliba headed into his own net in an attempt to clear the danger.

On the resumption, Tarxien came out determined to get back on level terms. Their efforts produced instant rewards as in the 49th minute, a superb Tabone free-kick gave Casha no chance.

Tarxien's joy was short-lived, however. Nine minutes into the second half, a teasing cross from Martin was headed home by Joseph Casha.

With Tarxien committing more men forward in search of an equaliser, they were caught out in defence. Steve Meilak set off on a solo run before sending a low shot past the stranded Curmi.

Two minutes before the end, Simon Shead's accurate pass was slotted home by Camenzuli to make it 3-2. This goal came too late for Tarxien to stage a reaction as Marsa comfortably held on to their advantage till the end.

Tarxien: A. Curmi, F. Farrugia (O. Grech), E. Saliba, J. Tonna (B. Testaferrata), K. Zammit (M. Micallef), S. Shead, A. Tabone, C. Camenzuli, K. Coleiro, A. Da Silva, J. Schembri.

Marsa: I. Casha, G. Bencini, D. Vella, N. Slavtchev, T. Thomas (R. Micallef),S. Borda, G. Martin (K. Scerri), S. Cutajar, S. Meilak, J. Casha (W. Chircop), J.P. Zammit.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

St George's 1
St Andrews 0

St George's gained their second win in as many matches at the expense of St Andrews.

In suffering their second defeat on the trot, St Andrews again found it hard to create scoring chances. In fact, Anthony Garcia's side have yet to score a goal in Division One.

The game started on a fast pace with St Andrews going for a risky flat-zone game against the attacking-minded St George's.

In the fourth minute, a Michael Borg Olivier free-kick finished wide for St Andrews. Two minutes later, St George's were unlucky not to move ahead when Larry Lagana's firm drive crashed against the crossbar.

Midway into the first half, St George's striker Trevor Thomas dribbled his way through a posse of opposing players but his drive was saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

At the other end, St Andrews' Anthony Galea hit a fine shot but Andrea Gatt stood firm in the St George's goal.

On the half hour, St George's came close again when a good one-two between Anthony Ewurun and Silvio Sciberras finished with the latter shooting just over the crossbar.

The stalemate was broken five minutes before the break. St George's were awarded a penalty when Galea tripped Silvio Sciberras inside the box and Jesmond Delia converted to put his side in the lead.

Eight minutes into the second half, the team from Cospicua squandered a glorious opportunity to extend their lead. Keith Darmanin chipped the ball over the St Andrews defence to beat the offside trap and Lagana was clean through only to shoot wide in front of the St Andrews custodian.

In the 57th minute, a moment of carelessness in the St George's defence opened the way for Salem Al Nagiem to take control of the ball but his shot brought a top-class save by Gatt.

St Andrews tried their luck again in the 66th minute when Al Nagiem attempted a shot from long distance which flew just over the crossbar.

In the 70th minute, St George's had an opportunity to deal the killer blow to St Andrews' hopes of an equaliser. Sciberras guided the ball to Thomas who was alone inside the area but the St George's striker shot high and wide.

Seven minutes from time, Sciberras was prominent again with another through pass to Darmanin who blasted the ball over from close range.

St Andrews threw more men forward in the final moments but their tame rally failed to produce an equaliser.

St George's: A. Gatt, E. Degabriele, J. Delia, E. Sevasta, C. Brincat, L. Lagana (C. Grech), K. Darmanin, J. Spiteri (P. Muscat), S. Sciberras (A. Lagana), A. Ewurun, T. Thomas.

St Andrews: J. Debono, R. Pisani, M. Tabone, S. Falzon, J. Sank, R. Briffa, I. Borg (Adrian Galea), M. Mangion, M. Borg Olivier (Aaron Galea), Anthony Galea (N. Veselji), R. Salem Al Nagiem.

Referee: Ian Miller.