Muscat goal puts Tarxien at the summit

Senglea Athletic 0
Tarxien Rainbows 1

Tarxien Rainbows moved to the top of the Division One standings yesterday following a 1-0 win over Senglea, thus completing a double over the side from Cottonera who are third behind Mosta.

This was a top-of-the-table clash which, however, failed to produce the entertaining fare expected by those present at the Tedesco Stadium. It seemed that both sides were more interested in playing out for a draw than venture forward to score goals.

Both defences were rock solid and hardly left any spaces for the forward men. Tight marking was the order of the day. The game needed an individual effort to break the deadlock... and so it was.

It took 20 minutes for both teams to record the first shot at goal, and this happened when a Clint Caruana free-kick was saved by Tarxien's Anthony Curmi. Then, Senglea defender Simon Aquilina's header finished over following a Darren Grech corner.

Tarxien almost went ahead on 35 minutes but John Paul Muscat's shot from inside the box was cleared by Aquilina.

In the 49th minute Muscat fired wide from a good position following a scorching Essien Mbong run.

Senglea were unlucky not to take the lead when Kenneth Abela lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Sean Cini, who had replaced Curmi, but the veteran striker was denied by the bar. Unfortunately for Abela, he suffered an injury after this action and had to leave the pitch.

Tarxien scored the goal that mattered right on the hour when substitute Angus Buhagiar floated an inviting ball for Muscat who sped past a static Senglea defence before the on-loan Mqabba striker hit low into the net.

In the 73rd minute, Senglea's Anthony Ewurun, who had a good match but was poor in his conclusions, was slow to react to a Mark Tanti pass. The Nigerian still tried to beat Cini but his effort was too weak to reach the Tarxien goal.

Muscat had the best chance to score again deep into stoppage time, coming face to face with goalkeeper George Attard who parried away the Rainbows striker's shot.

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

Tarxien: A. Curmi (S. Cini), J.P. Muscat, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg, G. Bencini, E. Mbong, A. Decesare, R. Schembri, R. Grech (O. Grech), L. Vella Critien, M. Borg (A. Buhagiar).

Referee: Joe Attard.

Man of the match: Manuel Caruana (Tarxien Rainbows).

Mellieha 0
Dingli Swallows 2

Dingli moved into fifth place in the standings after beating Mellieha 2-0. It was a merited victory for Jesmond Zammit's side who dominated the first half and administered their lead wisely after the break.

Dingli are in safe waters for the time being but Mellieha are still in deep relegation trouble.

Although missing a couple of sitters, Christopher Ciappara led Dingli's charge. Mellieha had Sandro Costa Brasilino sent off late on and Dingli also had Chris Muscat shown a red card a minute from time.

As expected, it was Dingli who drew first blood and this was in the 19th minute when Ciappara headed home an Etienne Farrugia cross from the right flank.

Dingli continued to dictate matters and on 23 minutes it was Ciappara, again, who jumped high to reach a Fabio Cauchi cross, with the ball just finishing off target.

On the half hour, Mellieha made their first real move inside the opponents' half but Gianluca Calabretta drove the ball over the crossbar.

Dingli made it 2-0 on 31 minutes, Mark Galea heading home from close range following an Agius cross.

They continued to push more men forward and were unlucky not to score a second when a Ciappara drive was cleared off the line by Luke Cauchi.

Two minutes before the break Ciappara should have done better when he miscued his shot following some good work by Agius.

The second half was a boring affair as very few scoring chances were created at either end of the pitch. This, also thanks to Dingli whose rearguard never yielded an extra inch.

Mellieha: S. Gauci, F. Vella (H. Vella), M. Abela (R. Vella), W. Borg, G. Calabretta, K. Gauci, P. Camilleri, R. Vella, I. Tarek, L. Cauchi, S. Costa Brasilino.

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

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Man of the match: Chris Ciappara (Dingli).

Saturday (Centenary Stadium)
1.30 p.m. Qormi vs St Patrick
3.30 p.m. St George's vs Senglea Athletic.

Sunday (Tedesco Stadium)
1.30 p.m. Mosta vs Vittoriosa
3.30 p.m. Tarxien vs Marsa.