Senglea and St Patrick share the spoils
Senglea Athletics 0St Patrick 0\nNo goals were scored in yesterday's second match which saw St Patrick and Senglea figure in a balanced encounter at the Hibs Ground. Both sides based their play on swift counter attacks with St Patrick almost taking all...
Senglea Athletics 0
St Patrick 0
\nNo goals were scored in yesterday's second match which saw St Patrick and Senglea figure in a balanced encounter at the Hibs Ground.
Both sides based their play on swift counter attacks with St Patrick almost taking all points late on when Senglea were reduced to 10 men but in the end had to settle for a draw.
Senglea had the better share of possession during the first half. After only 10 minutes Chima Dozie combined well with Glenn Bonello and the latter hit wide from a good position.
Four minutes later, Bonello found Timmy Thomas who evaded his marker but shot off target from close in.
The game continued in the same mould with Bonello serving Silvio Sciberras who looked odds on to score but was denied by a providential tackle from Vince Camilleri.
St Patrick's only goalscoring opportunity of the half arrived on 37 minutes when Shaun Magro served Kenneth Abela who headed the ball just over.
After the break, the Saints stepped up a gear and on 50 minutes Gordon Failla's cross-shot almost surprised goalkeeper George Attard but somehow the St Patrick no. 1 managed to parry the ball away and from the rebound Abela's header was blocked by the Senglea rearguard.
Borislav Giorev side threatened again seven minutes later when Simon Zerafa, exchanged the ball with Sandro Costa Brazilino who set up Abela who however shot straight at Attard.
The Saints continued to push more men forward but they created little danger to the Senglea rearguard.
Then Senglea's Darren Grech was red-carded for a tough challenge on Costa Brazilino.
St Patrick almost made their numerical advantage count when in stoppage time Abela's header seemed destined to hit the net but Attard leaped to his right to palm the ball away to safety.
Senglea: G. Attard, D. Gauci, L. Attard, D. Grech, F. Ellul, T. Thomas (T.Ghirxi), J. Gatt, S.Sciberras (B.Zerafa), E. Azzopardi, C. Dozie, G. Bonello (M. Borg).
St Patrick: D. Cassar, S. Dimech (K. Coleiro), R. Cassar, M. Zerafa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa, G. Failla (A.Caruana), S. Costa Brazilino, S. Magro, V. Camilleri (C. Micallef), K. Abela.
Referee: Joe Attard.
Man of the Match: Shaun Magro (St.Patrick).