Ewurun floors Saints in tense derby

Senglea Athletic 2
St George's 0

Former St George's striker Anthony Ewurun was the toast of Senglea yesterday after his brace handed his team a 2-0 win over their neighbouring rivals in a tense derby.

Although Ewurun took much of the credit for his goals, the best player on the pitch was his Senglea team-mate Chris Cuschieri.

Senglea were the better side in the first half but St George's were dangerous from counter-attacks.

St George's missed a glorious chance to take the lead after 26 minutes when Peter Anizoba ran past Daniel Cosaitis but shot straight at George Attard, the Senglea keeper.

On the half-hour, a Kenneth Abela cross-shot for Senglea flew across the face of goal but Ewurun just failed to make contact with the ball.

Nine minutes from half-time, Clayton Caruana, through after some good work by Anizoba, rifled the ball towards goal but Attard saved.

A minute later, Senglea could have opened the scoring when a long kick by Attard fell to Jason Borg who dashed past St George's goalkeeper Andrea Gatt but his lob finished over.

A minute into the second half, St George's wasted another chance to move ahead when Anizoba crossed for Emerson Amaira who dragged the ball wide with only Attard to beat.

St George's player Silvio Sciberras then shot wide from close in.

But it was Senglea who hit the target in the 54th minute when a cross by Cuschieri sailed towards Ewurun who headed home.

Senglea were now in control and on 67 minutes, Glenn Bonello hit the foot of the post. A header by Abela was then kept out by Gatt.

In the 70th minute, St George's almost snatched an equaliser when Anizoba supplied Sciberras but the latter fired wide.

Nine minutes from time, Mark Tanti released the advancing Ewurun who fired past Gatt to seal the points.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis, K. Mifsud. C. Caruana, M. Tanti, K. Abela (J. Farrugia), C. Cuschieri, S. Aquilina, G. Bonello, A. Ewurun (R. Cassar), J. Borg.

St George's: A. Gatt, C. Grech, G. Tanti (G. Desira Buttigieg), A. Bonello, J. Delia (S. Cassar), K. Xuereb, S. Sciberras, E. Amaira (A. Marmara), C. Caruana, P. Anizoba, H. Schembri.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: Chris Cuschieri (Senglea).