Ewurun spurs St George's to victory Lija frustrate Mqabba

St Andrew's 0
St George's 3

Nigerian striker Anthony Ewurun was at his irresistible best to help St George's rediscover their true form at the expense of bottom side St Andrew's, 3-0.

Their victory yesterday lifted St George's four points clear of second-placed Tarxien and seven points ahead of Marsa and Mqabba who are tied in third place.

This game was a lopsided affair as St George's dominated from start to finish. After just five minutes, a Trevor Thomas header was saved by Jonathan Debono and in the 16th minute, a neat one-two between Ewurun and Keith Darmanin finished with the latter being foiled by the St Andrews goalkeeper.

The opening goal came in the 21st minute when a Jesmond Delia free-kick found Ewurun who slammed the ball home from close range.

The Nigerian was again the architect of the second goal. Having received the ball a long way from the St Andrew's goal, Ewurun used his power and speed to burst clear of a couple of defenders before unleashing a rising shot which beat goalkeeper Debono at his near post.

St Andrew's only attempt at goal in the first half came on the half hour when Niki Micallef shot from the edge of the area but Andrea Gatt kept St George's goal intact.

St Andrew's defenders, having struggled to cope with their opponents' movement, looked a dejected lot as they left the pitch for half-time, sensing that another tough assignment awaited them on resumption.

In the second half, Clive Brincat delivered a cross which rolled agonisingly across the St Andrew's goalmouth before Ewurun missed a sitter, his shot hitting the post from close range.

St Andrew's were breached again in the 64th minute when Thomas dribbled his way into the box but was brought down by Neil Chetcuti. Thomas picked himself up to take the penalty, planting the ball past Debono.

Ewurun should have made it 4-0 in the 82nd minute after good work on the left by Miguel Mifsud but he was denied by Debono who came quickly off his line to clear the ball away.

Two minutes later, Michael Borg Olivier's solo run presented him with an opportunity to reduce the arrears for St Andrew's but substitute goalkeeper Alan Bonnici saved his attempt.

Deep into stoppage time, St Andrew's player Micallef fired inches wide from the edge of the area.

St Andrew's: J. Debono, N. Chetcuti, B. Diacono, Arnold Galea, M. Mangion, R. Briffa, N. Micallef, Anthony Galea, M. Borg Olivier, G. Bartolo, B. Chetcuti (M. Ellul).

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

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Lija Athletic 1
Mqabba 1

The woodwork and a string of good saves from Lija goalkeeper Jonathan Vella frustrated Mqabba yesterday.

Vince Carbonaro's promotion-seeking team were well below their best and had to wait until the last minute to rescue a point against the sturdy Lija.

Mqabba's inability to find the killer touch meant that they wasted the chance to make up further ground on leaders St George's and second-placed Tarxien Rainbows.

The draw put Mqabba level on 18 points with Marsa in third place and kept them ahead of Senglea Athletics but their unimpressive performance yesterday is unlikely to have the men from St George's and Tarxien shaking in their boots as the season reaches its climax.

Vella, the Lija custodian, produced a series of fine saves and the men in front of him withstood everything the increasingly impotent Mqabba threw at them.

The opening minutes were a bit stale with Mqabba attacking but Lija having the best of the chances.

John Camilleri went close in the 22nd minute with a hooked volley that was blocked by Kris Calleja.

Two minutes later, Camilleri put Lija ahead. Latching onto a cross from Nicholas Gatt from the right, the former Gozo FC striker lashed the ball past Calleja.

This goal stirred Mqabba into action. Martin Anastasi beat the offside trap in the 28th minute but Lija's Vella dived to his left to stop the Mqabba striker.

Five minutes later, an Uchanna Anywanna free-kick from around 25 metres hit the post with the Lija custodian well beaten.

On another occasion, Anywanna beat a couple of defenders following a good Martin Borg pass but after moving past Vella, the Nigerian pushed his shot against the post with the goal at his mercy.

Mqabba continued to push forward with urgency after the change of ends but as the minutes passed by, their momentum dropped.

Lija were dangerous on the hour when a Beppe Antignolo half-volley from the edge of the area just missed the target.

Keith Mallia had a neatly-placed drive blocked by Vella on 73 minutes.

Mqabba injected some pace into their attack when Marlon Briffa surged down the right, fed Jean Paul Muscat who crossed towards Anywanna but the Lija rearguard were alert and cleared the ball away.

Then, in the last minute, Mauro Bonnici's fierce drive from well outside the Lija penalty area took a deflection by a defender and sailed past the helpless Vella to make the final scoreline 1-1.

Lija: J. Vella, E. Azzopardi (J.P. Scerri), G. Lanzon, D. Scerri, M. Gatt, J. Camilleri (G. Calabretta), R. Farrugia (A. Ellul), N. Gatt, P. Camilleri, Z. Anicic, B. Antignolo.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Catania, M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa, M. Borg, M. Bonnici, U. Anywanna, C. Borg (R. Spiteri), M. Anastasi (J.P. Muscat), E. Borg (K. Mallia).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.