Ten-man Vittoriosa beat Mellieha
Vittoriosa 2Mellieha 1 Substitute Timothy Thomas grabbed a late winner for Vittoriosa Stars to hand Massimo Cremona's side a valuable win over Mellieha. It was a great result for the Cottonera outfit who had to play the last 25 minutes with a player...
Vittoriosa 2
Mellieha 1
Substitute Timothy Thomas grabbed a late winner for Vittoriosa Stars to hand Massimo Cremona's side a valuable win over Mellieha.
It was a great result for the Cottonera outfit who had to play the last 25 minutes with a player less after Keith Darmanin's dismissal.
Mellieha have only themselves to blame as they had countless chances to score with Gianluca Calabretta creating much of the danger for the Vittoriosa rearguard.
Ibrahim Tarik came close for Mellieha from a free-kick after seven minutes, but his shot sailed over.
Mellieha continued to show the better play and in the 12th minute, Calabretta missed a glorious opportunity to equalise when he drove the ball wide from routine distance.
Vittoriosa's response arrived on 20 minutes when Cedric Sciberras's header finished just over the bar.
Mellieha came close to break the deadlock on 33 minutes when Calabretta anticipated goalkeeper Ivan Cassar but with the ball rolling towards the net, David Gauci sprinted backwards to clear the danger.
Mellieha did score on 38 minutes when Calabretta's first time effort gave goalkeeper Cassar no chance.
Vittoriosa reacted immediately and drew level on the stroke of half-time. William Borg fouled Trevor Thomas in the area and the Cottonera forward converted the resultant penalty.
Vittoriosa's hopes were dented on 65 minutes when Darmanin was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of 10 minutes.
Vittoriosa still kept threatening and on 82 minutes, substitute Timothy Thomas beat two defenders but shot straight into the hands of Gauci.
However, Thomas soon made amends a minute later when he beat his marker to lob the ball past Gauci.
Mellieha almost levelled the match in stoppage time but Borg St John's shot was somehow kept out by Cassar.
Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, R. Adami, C. Sciberras, L. Scerri, K. Darmanin, C. Cachia, Trevor Thomas (E. Bugeja), L. Grech (Timothy Thomas), S. Calleja (S. Privitelli), D. Gauci, J. Spiteri.
Mellieha: S. Gauci, W. Borg, G. Calabretta, K. Gauci, W. Borg St John, R. Vella, I. Tarik (P. Vella), M. Borg, L. Cauchi (F. Vella), S. Costa Brasilino, C. Borg.
Referee: Juergen Spiteri.
Man of the match: Gianluca Calabretta (Mellieha).