Promotion issue open as favourites drop points

St Patrick 2
Marsa 1

Marsa suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of St Patrick. The latter netted twice in two minutes to improve their own position in the standings and throw the promotion issue wide open at the end of the first round.

After St George's lost two matches in a row, it was left to Marsa to run the show in Division One as victory yesterday would have made them sole leaders. But in this league, nothing can be taken for granted as the surprising results recorded in the past few weeks amply demonstrate.

Marsa did not perform badly yesterday. After pulling a goal back, they desperately put more men forward in search of an equaliser but the Saints defended well and relied on quick counter-breaks.

St Patrick had the better start and after only eight minutes, a Gordon Failla free-kick just missed the target.

Borislav Giorev's side maintained their early momentum and in the 20th minute, Mark Tanti tried his luck from 20 metres but his effort went wide.

Marsa responded in the 24th minute when a Gilbert Martin cross set up Timmy Thomas who headed well but the ball finished just over the crossbar.

A minute into first-half stoppage time, Marsa had a Daniel Gatt shot from the edge of the area, flashing wide by a few inches.

Michael Molzahn's men should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when Warren Chircop made a fine diagonal run only to be shoved off the ball by Matthew Fleri Soler inside the box. Marsa called on referee Saviour Tanti to award them a penalty but the official waved play on.

A minute later, Marsa went close again when Steve Meilak's corner was met by Chircop but the latter's header finished wide.

St Patrick won a penalty in the 63rd minute when Marsa's Kevin Scerri floored the quick Gilbert Scerri. Tanti had the better of Ivan Casha from the spot to put the Saints ahead.

Two minutes later, the Saints increased their lead. Picking up a clearance from the back, Tanti sped towards goal and, upon entering the penalty area, he fired a strong shot past Casha.

St Patrick could have made the game safe 10 minutes from time. Simon Zerafa's quick footwork proved too much for the Marsa defence but the St Patrick forward's drive from an acute angle was saved by Casha.

Marsa narrowed the deficit six minutes from time. A Brandon Zammit free-kick caused panic in the Saints' defence and Jeremy Dalli was on hand to roll the ball into the net.

The Saints claimed that Dalli had used his hand to push the ball home but the referee allowed the goal to stand. Despite Marsa's late rally to salvage the game, St Patrick stayed composed to hold on to their slim lead.

St Patrick: S. Mintoff, R. Cassar, M. Zerafa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Costa Brazilino, M. Tanti, G. Failla, B. Fenech (K. Vassallo), S. Zerafa, L. Vella (A. Buttigieg), C. Micallef (G. Scerri).

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

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Tarxien Rainbows 0
Naxxar Lions 0

A strange jinx seems to be afflicting the top teams in Division One.

Following St George's loss to Lija in midweek and Marsa's 2-1 upset to St Patrick in yesterday's first match, Tarxien Rainbows failed to gain advantage as they were held to a goalless draw by Naxxar Lions. A win for Tarxien would have lifted them to the top of the table.

This was undoubtedly Tarxien's worst performance of the season, especially in attack. Their only consolation is that they are now level on points with Marsa and just one point below St George's, albeit the Rainbows have played a game more.

Flowing football was at a premium in the first 45 minutes, both teams looking more than happy to boot the ball away rather than trying to pass it around with some intent. To be fair to them, their efforts were rendered more complicated by the strong wind.

The game exploded in the last 10 minutes when both sides could have notched a couple of goals each.

Tarxien were slightly the better team early on. Their first real opening came on 23 minutes when an Alan Tabone curler from long range finished over the crossbar.

Carlos Camenzuli suffered the same fate on 38 minutes while Naxxar could have nosed ahead on the stroke of half-time when Chima Dozie fed Simon Muscat only for the latter's final effort to miss the target.

After the change of ends, Tarxien set about increasing the pressure on the Lions, Camenzuli lifting the ball over the bar from close range. But the game continued on the same wavelength as the first with scrappy football being the order of the day.

Naxxar were more aggressive in the second half but despite their improved efforts, they rarely had a sniff of Tarxien's goal. Their first chance came in the 83rd minute when, from a Simon Muscat free-kick, Victor Bellia's header was cleared away for a corner by a Tarxien defender.

Tarxien responded immediately and five minutes from the end, an Andre Da Silva cross-shot was cleared off the line by Cedric Sciberras. From the resultant corner, Da Silva's inswinger looked destined to hit the back of the net but again, the ball was cleared off the line, this time by Gilbert Camilleri.

Naxxar could have snatched the points deep into injury time when Eric Saliba was robbed of the ball by Bellia who ran freely into the box but Tarxien goalkeeper Anthony Curmi was brave to dive at his feet and save.

A minute later, Tarxien defender Floyd Farrugia cleared badly from his own area and Muscat was quick to capitalise but he fired wide when one-on-one with the keeper.

Tarxien: A. Curmi, F. Farrugia, M. Caruana, E. Saliba, B. Testaferrata, K. Zammit (K. Coleiro), M. Micallef, S. Shead, A. Tabone, C. Camenzuli, A. Rocha Da Silva.

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

Referee: Esther Farrugia.