Promotion issue still undecided

St George's 2
Marsa 2

St George's were two minutes away from winning the championship but prolific Marsa striker Gilbert Martin struck with a late equaliser to keep the promotion issue undecided until the very last weekend of the league.

St George's now need at least a point from their last game against Lija to secure promotion while Marsa could join the Saints by beating St Patrick although much also depends on Saturday's game between Tarxien and Mqabba.

As expected, this was a tense game with three players sent off. Marsa were perhaps the better side in the first half but St George's improved a lot after the break.

Marsa pinned the Saints in their own half early on. A Daniel Gatt cross found Martin unmarked inside the area but the latter shot wide. Martin then hit over from outside the Saints' box.

St George's responded with a Miguel Mifsud cross for Anthony Ewurun, whose drive missed the Marsa goal by a whisker.

But Marsa continued to show better qualities and in the 29th minute a Martin free-kick took a deflection and almost deceived goalkeeper Andrea Gatt. A Nikolai Slavtchev free-kick was headed just wide by Steven Meilak.

In the 39th minute, Marsa fell behind. Ivan Casha looked hesitant when trying to clear a Mifsud cross, the ball fell at the feet of Johan Spiteri who blasted home.

St George's threatened again before the break. Another Mifsud delivery into the Marsa area and Ewurun's header finished just over the top.

Marsa then won a penalty after Gatt brought down Martin. The Saints keeper was red-carded and Casha, the Marsa penalty-taker, beat substitute Alan Bonnici from the spot.

But St George's regained their lead two minutes after the restart when Keith Darmanin, put through by Ewurun, placed the ball beyond Casha's reach.

Marsa tried to get their act together but were finding the solid Saints difficult to break down. On 68 minutes numerical parity was restored when Meilak was sent off.

St George's looked good enough to preserve their lead but two minutes from time Marsa won a corner and from the flag-kick, Martin's scorcher beat Bonnici hands down. After this goal the referee ordered Marsa's Joseph Casha off, for dissent.

St George's: A. Gatt, E. Degabriele (C. Grech) A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, J. Delia, C. Brincat, J. Spiteri, M. Mifsud (A. Bonnici), A. Ewurun, K. Darmanin, P. Muscat.

Marsa: I. Casha, N. Slavtchev, K. Scerri, K. Cassar (B. Zammit, T. Thomas), J.P. Zammit (J. Dalli), D. Vella, S. Cutajar, D. Gatt, G. Martin, J. Casha, S. Meilak.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

St Andrew's 0
Naxxar Lions 4

Naxxar Lions defeated lowly St Andrew's to go third from bottom in the standings. This was the last game for both sides and now the Lions' fate is in the hands of St George's who play Lija on Sunday.

Dennis Fenech's side were the better team on the field of play but the St Andrew's rearguard never gave away an extra inch.

A Chris Tabone header for Naxxar was cleared off the line by Nicky Micallef and at the other end an Ian Borg effort from around 30 metres was superbly saved by Kevin Agius.

Glenn Magri and Tabone exchanged passes with the former's blistering drive destined for the top corner of the net but Jonathan Debono stopped it with a flying save.

Chima Dozie sprinted through for Naxxar on the half hour but Debono was again alert to rush out and intercept the ball with a foot.

Naxxar took the lead in the 35th minute. Dozie crossed for Gilbert Camilleri whose shot finished in the net via the upright.

Naxxar doubled the score a minute after the break. Simon Muscat did well to release Magri who hit the ball home on the run.

On the hour the Lions should have scored a third but Dozie lost his balance in front of Debono who cleared in time.

The Lions did score a third goal eight minutes later. Again it was another effective one-two move with Dozie serving Camilleri who beat the offside trap and scored with ease.

The Saints threw in the towel and six minutes from time Camilleri's feint deceived Junior Sank who in an attempt to clear the ball deflected the ball into his own net.

St Andrew's: J. Debono (F. Tabone), B. Galea, Adrian Galea, R. Briffa, J. Sank, S. Falzon, N. Chetcuti (B. Diacono), Anthony Galea, B. Chetcuti (M. Amato), I. Borg, N. Micallef.

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

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Remaining matches:

Saturday - 2.30 p.m. San Gwann vs Senglea; 4.30 p.m. Tarxien vs Mqabba.

Sunday - 9 a.m. Lija vs St George's; 11 a.m. Marsa vs St Patrick.