Naxxar, Senglea ease relegation worries

San Gwann 1
Senglea Athletic 2

Raymond Camilleri had a fine debut as coach of Senglea Athletic after the Cottonera side beat San Gwann by the odd goal in three to ease their relegation worries.

Senglea gave a good account of themselves especially in the second half as they managed to keep at bay San Gwann's threat after conceding the equaliser. They kept pushing more men forward and in the end their efforts were rewarded with the winner.

The first half turned out to be a balanced affair with San Gwann enjoying the better share of possession even though Senglea came more into the picture as minutes ticked away.

The first chance of the match fell to Senglea on 13 minutes. Mark Marlow's dangerous cross from a free-kick was met by Kenneth Abela whose header finished wide.

For the next 20 minutes the two teams cancelled each other and it was only on 32 minutes that the next goalscoring opportunity arrived for Senglea. Lawrence Attard's free-kick was partially cleared by the San Gwann defence, Clint Caruana picked Bonello in the are but the latter hit over.

San Gwann replied a minute later when Antonio Saliba's long range effort finished wide. On 36 minutes Karl Sciberras's shot from the distance ended just wide.

Senglea took the lead on 54 minutes when Abela was first on a poor clearance and scrambled the ball home. The Cottonera outfit could have doubled their advantage on the hour but Bonello shot wide from an inviting position.

San Gwann drew level on 68 minutes when from Luke Vella Critien's free-kick, Peter Anizoba saw his shot blocked by goalkeeper Jonathan Agius but the Nigerian made no mistake from the rebound.

But Senglea took just eight minutes to regain the advantage. From a Marlow corner-kick, Vince Camilleri tried to clear the ball but he advertently hit Vella Critien with the ball bouncing agonisingly into his own net.

Senglea should have sealed the points in time added on when Borg's cross found Abela who however headed wide.

San Gwann: M. Bartolo; L. Vella Critien, S. Vella, M. Buttigieg (S. Zammit Fava), A. Saliba, V. Camilleri, P. Anizoba, A. Farrugia (K. Loughborough), A. Borg, K. Sciberras, J. Borg (A. Zammit Tabona).

Senglea: J. Agius; K. Abela, D. Gauci, C. Caruana, D. Grech, D. Cosaitis, A. Gera (J. Borg), L. Attard (E. Azzopardi), G. Bonello, E. Bobolayefa, M. Marlow (L. McKay).

Referee: Ian Miller.

Naxxar Lions 3
St Andrew's 0

Naxxar Lions moved to safer waters with a comfortable win over St Andrew's who remained rooted at the bottom of Division One.

Dennis Fenech's side were the better side with Gilbert Camilleri and Chima Dozie posing all sorts of problems in attack and Victor Bellia a commanding figure in midfield.

The Lions started as the better side and after only five minutes Dozie turned in nicely on the edge of the box with his drive being saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

The Lions continued to push more men forward and three minutes later Matthew Borg put Dozie through and the Nigerian striker lobbed the ball over the onrushing Debono but Michael Mangion recovered quickly to clear.

Naxxar forged ahead after 10 minutes when Bellia's clever pass found Camilleri who squeezed the ball into the path of Dozie who hammered the ball home.

One here expected St Andrews' reaction but they rarely threatened the Naxxar goal. Instead it was the Lions who could have doubled their advantage on 33 minutes when Dozie was first on Gordon Naudi's free-kick but his header just missed the target.

Naxxar were always in command and the only time St Andrew's threatened was on 40 minutes when Brian Galea's drive finished metres wide.

A minute before the break Naxxar almost added a second when Bellia again set up Dozie who fired a low shot that skimmed the upright.

St Andrew's came out sprightly in the second half when a Niki Micallef volley was well saved by Cini.

Naxxar replied on 69 minutes when Borg's insidious cross found Dozie who fired wide from close in.

The Lions made sure of the points with two goals in the space of two minutes. On 70 minutes Dozie freed Camilleri who rammed the ball home. Two minutes later Dozie netted his second of the match when he headed home a Bellia cross.

St Andrew's should have pulled one back in time added on when Arubuike Imebolu found Adrian Galea in the area but his overhead kick was well saved by Cini.

Naxxar: R. Cini; G. Naudi, R. Schembri, M. Borg, J. Borg, C. Sciberras, V. Bellia, C. Dozie (M. Gauci), G. Camilleri, G. Magri (J. Zammit), K. Fenech (C. Tabone)..

St Andrew's: J. Debono, J. Sank, A. Galea, M. Mangion, B. Galea (I. Borg), R. Briffa, N. Micallef, A. Galea, B. Chetcuti (J. Sant Fournier) (A. Galea), G. Bartolo, A. Arubuike Imebolu.

Referee: Andre Arciola.