Tarxien back in the hunt

Tarxien Rainbows 2
Senglea Athletics 0

Tarxien Rainbows registered an important victory over Senglea Athletics to get back in the hunt for promotion.

After a dismal run in which they collected only one point from their last three matches, Jesmond Zerafa's team played a disciplined tactical game with striker Alan Tabone again being their main inspiration.

Senglea were the better side early on as their direct approach caused problems to the Tarxien rearguard. After only one minute, a teasing Erin Azzopardi cross from the right was headed away for a corner by Stefan Farrugia before Chima Dozie could conclude.

From the resulting corner, taken by Silvio Sciberras, Senglea's Dozie shot high from underneath the crossbar.

At the other end, an Omar Grech drive from around 25 metres was off target as Tarxien raised their performance. The Rainbows were unlucky in the 15th minute when Tabone supplied a floating cross into the area but Simon Shead's header smacked against the post.

Tarxien were now a transformed team and on 32 minutes, a long pass from Steve Sadowski found the unmarked Shead but the latter failed to control the ball.

Tarxien continued to dictate matters after the change of ends. Fourteen minutes into the second half, a Ryan Darmanin drive from inside the area just missed the target and, a minute later, Maczerob Okoro's header from a Tabone corner was cleared off the line by Azzopardi.

Senglea responded in the 63rd minute when a well-hit Sciberras free-kick was deflected by the Tarxien defensive wall but goalkeeper Anthony Curmi pushed the ball away for a corner.

Three minutes later, a corner by Darren Grech was met by Dozie but the Nigerian's goalbound header was hooked away by Grech.

Tarxien grabbed the lead a minute later. Sadowski produced a telling cross from the right and Darmanin headed home at the far post.

Senglea were shell-shocked and Tarxien duly capitalised by doubling their tally in the 74th minute. A through-pass from Grech sailed towards Shead who ran forward unchallenged before beating George Attard.

Tarxien easily administered their two-goal buffer in the remaining minutes to resurrect their promotion hopes.

Tarxien: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, J. Francica, O. Grech, S. Farrugia, S. Shead (M. Micallef), A. Tabone, P. Camilleri, M. Okoro, R. Darmanin (G. Cutajar).

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Gauci, D. Cosaitis, D. Grech, F. Ellul, T. Thomas (J. Gatt), S. Sciberras, E. Azzopardi (J. Fsadni), C. Dozie, M. Borg, F. Dingli (G. Bonello).

Referee: Andre Arciola

Man of the match: Alan Tabone (Tarxien).