Tight race for promotion slot

Mqabba 1
Senglea Athletics 2

Senglea are back in the hunt. They needed a win yesterday to keep their slim hopes of promotion alive and a victory is what they achieved after beating Mqabba, thus doing a double on Vince Carbonaro's side this season.

This was a crucial game for both sides, particularly Mqabba. Three points for them would have meant second place all by themselves.

But, now Mqabba are six points behind leaders St George's and one adrift of Marsa and Tarxien. Senglea are snapping behind Mqabba's heels in fifth place.

This was a match not to miss with both teams showing some good qualities.

Jean Paul Muscat and Keith Mallia, for Mqabba, and Senglea's Mark Marlow and Darren Grech, contributed to make this a lively contest.

It was Senglea who created the first goal-scoring opportunity of the game when Anthony Gera turned well inside the area to shoot, but Kris Calleja was well positioned to save.

Mqabba took the lead a minute later. Muscat blasted home from outside the box, giving keeper George Attard no chance.

Senglea immediately pushed more men forward searching for a quick equaliser but found Calleja in commanding form.

Senglea's pressure paid dividends when they won a penalty in the 25th minute. Martin Borg handled the ball inside his own box and referee Adrian Azzopardi immediately pointed to the spot. Grech found the net with relative ease.

Mqabba could have taken the lead again in the 36th minute when from a Borg free-kick, Attard failed to hold the ball which fell to Keith Mallia whose drive was cleared off the line by Simon Aquilina.

Mqabba missed a sitter on the hour. An Uchanna Anywanna cross deceived the Senglea keeper, the loose ball came into the path of Mallia who shot straight at Attard.

Anywanna then had the better of Lawrence Attard as he dribbled his way into the Senglea box but the Nigerian striker concluded badly, hitting well over the bar.

Senglea struck 10 minutes from time when Grech's cross found Kenneth Abela unmarked to head home, the ball reaching the net after Calleja looked odds on to keep it out.

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

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

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Tarxien Rainbows 1
St Andrew's 1

Tarxien were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by lowly St Andrew's, a result which somewhat dents Jesmond Zerafa's side push for promotion to the Premier League.

St Andrew's, all but doomed to Division Two, had also managed a two-all draw against the Rainbows in the first round.

Tarxien are joint second in the standings but after losing 2-1 to San Gwann in their previous encounter, they now need to find their winning formula again to play Premiership football next season.

Only a few seconds had passed when a George Cutajar free-kick was headed over the Saints bar by Eric Saliba.

At the other end, a Nicky Micallef cross came into the path of Michael Borg Olivier whose shot flew wide.

St Andrew's forged ahead in the 18th minute when from an inch-perfect Anthony Galea pass, Borg Olivier sped into the box before firing low past Shawn Cardona.

A Simon Shead header from a Tabone corner was cleared off the line but the Rainbows drew level on 32 minutes. Kurt Zammit released Tabone who hit a scorcher from 30 metres out.

Tarxien took the upperhand and a Carlos Camenzuli drive was ably saved by Jonathan Debono.

The Saints had their chances though. An Ian Borg shot was stopped by Cardona and then Adrian Galea just missed the target from close range.

Tabone was again denied by Debono after the restart and at the other end Adrian Galea dribbled past Cardona before crossing to Borg Olivier who missed a glorious chance from a good position.

Camenzuli should have done better five minutes from time when following a Kurt Coleiro cross, the former Mosta striker headed wide from inside the Saints box.

Borg Olivier was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Tarxien: S. Cardona, F. Farrugia (O. Grech), G. Cutajar, E. Saliba, J. Tonna (M. Caruana), K. Zammit (K. Coleiro), M. Micallef, S. Shead, A. Tabone, C. Camenzuli, A. Rocha Da Silva.

St Andrew's: J. Debono, B. Galea, R. Briffa, Anthony Galea, J. Sank, S. Falzon, J. Sant Fournier (N. Chetcuti), M. Borg Olivier, I. Borg, N. Micallef, Adrian Galea (G. Bartolo).

Referee: Paul Caruana.