Mosta beat Tarxien by the odd goal in five

Mosta 3
Tarxien Rainbows 2

Mosta and Tarxien Rainbows completed the 2006/07 championship calendar yesterday in a match that produced five goals.

Tarxien started the season full of ambition but failed to win promotion and had to settle for third place while Mosta improved considerably as the season got along to stave off relegation.

Not much happened in the first 45 minutes, with the few spectators present complaining of the excessive heat. Chances were few and far in between but the Rainbows took the lead in the 26th minute. A Charles Sciberras back pass was mishit by Joshua Galea and the ball rolled in the back of the Mosta net.

However, the Blues took just three minutes to draw level. Following a melee inside the Tarxien area, Sciberras made amends for his previous mishap with a scorching half-volley that lifted the roof of the net, leaving Sean Cini helpless.

The battle for supremacy was locked in midfield but a minute before the break Mosta found a breakthrough. From a Carlos Camenzuli cross, Daniel Theuma, unmarked, tapped the ball home with ease.

The Blues made it 3-1 six minutes after the restart. Ryan Deguara sprinted on the right flank, dribbled past his marker before serving Camenzuli who slotted the ball home.

Mosta continued to dictate matters and could have opened a three-goal lead on 63 minutes but Theuma shot high and wide in front of goal after a perfect combination between Philip Camilleri and Ryan Deguara.

Tarxien pulled a goal back on 68 minutes. Alan Tabone's precise pass found Simon Shead who, although tightly-marked, lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper. That proved to be the last goal of the 2006/07 championship.

Tarxien could have equalised later on when from a Tabone corner, the ball was headed to Jonathan Francica whose effort just missed the target. At the other end, Christopher Pace's drive was saved by Cini and in stoppage time a Shead shot almost had the better of Galea in the Mosta goal.

Mosta: J. Galea, B. Agius, A. Borg, J. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (C. Pace), R. Deguara, M. Farrugia, C. Sciberras (P. Camilleri), C. Tabone (S. Borg), D. Theuma.

Tarxien: S. Cini, G. Cutajar, M. Micallef, A. Mangion, A. Tabone, J. Schembri, P. Camilleri, E. Cutajar (M. Zammit), M. Okoro (M. Pisani), R. Darmanin (S. Shead), J. Francica.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Man of the match: Ryan Deguara (Mosta).

Naxxar Lions 2
Senglea Athletics 3

A late comeback was not enough for Naxxar to earn a point against Senglea in yesterday's first match at the Tedesco Stadium.

Although already relegated to Division Two, Naxxar fought bravely even though the team was trailing 3-0 at one stage of the match.

As expected, this was more like a friendly encounter with nothing at stake. Although the hot temperature was too much for both teams after a long season, the only player who seemed unaffected with the conditions was Chima Dozie who never stopped running.

After only five minutes, he sped past the Naxxar keeper and tried to pull back a pass to Glenn Bonello but, somehow, his cross was foiled by Ramon Schembri.

Senglea forged ahead on 17 minutes when from a Silvio Sciberras long ball into the box, Dozie jumped higher than two Naxxar defenders and headed home.

Senglea continued to enjoy the lion's share of play and on 28 minutes they were awarded a penalty.

Dozie was brought down in the box by Matthew Spiteri Gonzi but the Nigerian striker's spot-kick was saved by James Mercieca.

At the other end, Naxxar's Peter Anizoba failed to make contact in front of goal. Then, Anizoba released Ian Bartolo but his header finished high over the bar from close range.

Senglea made it 3-0 with two goals either side of half-time.

Sciberras beat the challenge of two defenders in the Lions' box before serving Dozie who tapped past Mercieca. On 55 minutes Bonello hit home following a Dozie pass.

But, Anizoba pulled one back on 64 minutes, signalling his team's revival in the last stages of the match.

Twice, they were denied by the post following shots by Kevin Fenech and Adrian Fenech before Glenn Magri worked his way brilliantly through to make it 3-2.

However, there was little time for Naxxar to save the match.

Of particular interest next season will be the keen derbies expected from the three Cottonera area sides who will all figure in Division One following the demotion of St George's from the Premier League.

Naxxar: J. Mercieca (B. Attard), K. Fenech, R. Schembri, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J. Brincat (J. Grech), A. Fenech, T. Fenech, I. Borg (G. Magri), A. Catania, A. Bartolo, P. Anizoba.

Senglea: G. Attard (B. Mangion), L. Attard (Timmy Thomas), D. Gauci, D. Cosaitis, S. Sciberras, J. Gatt, C. Dozie, B. Zerafa, T. Ghirxi, G. Bonello, R. Cassar (M. Borg).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Chima Dozie (Senglea).