Promoted teams share the spoils

Dingli Swallows 2
Mellieha 2

Dingli Swallows and Mellieha shared four goals in a highly-entertaining clash between the two promoted sides at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

The match produced swift attacking football from both sides especially during the opening 45 minutes. But still, neither team managed to gain the upperhand and in the end they had to settle for a point apiece.

The first goalscoring opportunity came Mellieha's way when in the 18th minute Gianluca Calabretta's drive finished over.

Dingli replied seven minutes later when the ball fell into the path of Uchanna Anywanna who shot high and wide in front of a gaping goal.

It was Mellieha who took the lead on 40 minutes, Calabretta heading the ball home from a Wayne Borg St John free-kick.

Dingli soon responded and on 43 minutes, Jeremy Agius hit wide from a good position while Jason Cachia drove the ball over the crossbar with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Dingli equalised on 51 minutes when Anywanna headed home from a Christian Muscat corner.

The Swallows kept up the tempo and forged ahead on 61 minutes when Agius was first on a loose ball and somehow fired past Vella.

On 66 minutes, Dingli could have scored again when Anywanna's shot was cleared off the line by Mark Borg.

But Mellieha restored parity on 70 minutes when Borg St John served Reuben Vella whose shot was deflected home by William Borg.

Anywanna almost won it for Dingli on 75 minutes but the Nigerian hit over from routine distance.

Dingli: J. Farrugia; E. Casha, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, K. Formosa (C. Ciappara), V. Fiteni, C. Muscat (D. Roe), J. Agius, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, U. Anywanna.

Mellieha: D. Vella; W. Borg, G. Calabretta (J. Spiteri) K. Gauci (S. Costa Brazilino), W. Borg St John (P. Vella), R. Vella, I. Tarik, H. Vella, M. Borg, L. Cauchi, C. Borg.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Man of the match: Uchanna Anywanna (Dingli).

Today: (Centenary Stadium) 6 p.m. Marsa vs Tarxien; 8 p.m. Senglea vs St George's