Senglea are back in promotion hunt

Senglea Athletics 1
Tarxien Rainbows 0

Senglea are back in the hunt after beating fellow promotion hopefuls Tarxien. A penalty 15 minutes from time decided the issue after a tense encounter at the Hibs Ground.

Tarxien left the ground in a bad taste and were clearly unhappy with referee Kevin Azzopardi.

Coach Jesmond Zerafa and his assistant Twanny Dalli had to make some changes and left captain Simon Shead on the bench along with George Cutajar and Kurt Zammit. The captain's armband was given to Alan Tabone.

Following a testing patch, both teams tried to move out of their shells and the first real threat came from Senglea in the 15th minute. Kenneth Abela delivered a glorious pass to Jason Borg in the area but the Senglea striker tried to beat a player too many before shooting wide.

Omar Grech then tried his luck for Tarxien from outside the box with the ball just missing the target.

Chances were few and far between but a goal could have been scored just before the break.

Grech crossed from the right, Tabone's feint deceived the Senglea rearguard and with Floyd Farrugia overlapping on the left flank the Tarxien defender was unlucky to see his shot hitting the upright.

In first-half stoppage time Brazilian Andre Rocha da Silva was booked for a handball which probably means he will skip Tarxien's next match against St George's.

Senglea looked better in the second half. An Abela effort was kept out by Anthony Curmi and at the other end Carlos Camenzuli's drive was saved by George Attard.

On 64 minutes Borg dribbled his way past Eric Saliba and Michael Micallef, only to shoot inches wide of the Rainbows goal.

But, Senglea broke the deadlock on 75 minutes. Darren Grech's floating cross from the right found Edon Bobolayefa, who for a moment looked to have lost possession to the onrushing Curmi. The Tarxien keeper collided with Bobolayefa and a penalty was given.

Penalty expert Simon Aquilina stepped up to beat Curmi from the spot to the delight of the numerous Senglea fans.

Six minutes from time Shead was brought down in the Senglea box by Lawrence Attard but the referee ignored the 'infringement' to Tarxien's surprise as the Cottonera team held on to boost their Premier League chances next season.

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

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

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Saints almost sure of safety

San Gwann 4
Naxxar Lions 1

San Gwann have practically made sure of playing First Division football next season after a fine victory over a Naxxar Lions side also eager to win points to move out of the drop zone.

Noel Coleiro players looked brighter on the day and on the counter attack they were always a problem for Naxxar who never stopped trying even though their finishing was not up to scratch.

Naxxar were dangerous as early as the fifth minute when a Simon Muscat cross was cleared in time by San Gwann defender Stacy Vella before Gilbert Camilleri could connect.

San Gwann responded three minutes later when Randolph Penza's pace was too much for the Lions defence, he even dribbled his way past goalkeeper Kevin Agius but failed to score from an acute angle.

A long-distance drive from Victor Bellia just missed the Saints goal but San Gwann forged ahead in the 24th minute. Penza worked his way through like a flash but was brought down in the Naxxar box. Kevin Loughborough buried the ball home from the penalty spot.

San Gwann doubled their tally on the stroke of half-time. From a Loughborough corner, Penza headed past Agius from close range.

The match was practically over on 50 minutes when following a quick counter attack, a Karl Sciberras shot from 15 metres out took a deflection off Cedric Sciberras on its way inside the Lions net.

Bellia again tried to score from the distance but with little luck as Naxxar ventured forward in their bid to pull one back. A Chima Dozie first-time effort in the 63rd minute was saved by Justin Spiteri.

Five minutes from time, a Cedric Sciberras free-kick from 35 metres out had the better of Spiteri - 3-1.

But San Gwann made the game safe soon after when Anizoba powered his way inside the Naxxar half before delivering a cross for substitute Alan Borg who beat Agius with a firm drive.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, L. Vella Critien, A. Zammit Tabone (L. Sciberras), M. Buttigieg, S. Vella, S. Zammit Fava, P. Anizoba, K. Lough-borough, C. Cuschieri, K. Sciberras (J. Sant), R. Penza (A. Borg).

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

Referee: Andre Arciola.