Senglea rout 10-man St George's

St George's 0
Senglea Athletic 4

Senglea went top of the Division One table yesterday after a 4-0 rout of rivals St George's who played most of the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Anthony Bonello.

The Yellow-Reds, who have played a game more than Tarxien and Mosta, produced some exhilarating football and scored a wonderful goal through Anthony Ewurun on their way to completing a double over the Saints.

Only three minutes from the start of the game had passed when referee Marco Borg sent off Anthony Bonello after a row with Daniel Cosaitis who was cautioned.

Despite being a man down, St George's continued to play on a par with Senglea. Midway through the first half, a counter-attack by St George's ended with Peter Anizoba rifling a first-time effort that was saved by George Attard.

It was Senglea who forged ahead on 34 minutes when Glenn Bonello's drive from just inside the area ended in the net after taking a deflection off St George's midfielder Heathcliff Schembri.

Six minutes later, Michael Woods's team were unlucky not to level matters when a Clayton Caruana thunderbolt smacked against the crossbar.

Senglea made it 2-0 two minutes from the break and what a goal it was. Kevin Mifsud found Bonello who back-heeled the ball into the path of Ewurun and the Nigerian beat Andrea Gatt with a well-taken shot.

After a quiet start to the second half, Senglea increased their lead on the hour through Bonello who had been set up by Ewurun.

St George's responded on 66 minutes through Vincent Camilleri who shot straight at goalkeeper Attard.

Senglea were now toying with their opponents but Anizoba missed two easy chances to reduce the deficit for the Saints. The Nigerian first dribbled past two defenders and shot against the post and, a minute later, he was closed down by the Senglea defenders after taking a touch too many.

The Saints paid dearly for these misses as deep into injury time, Darren Grech dribbled past Jesmond Delia and lashed the ball home to give Senglea a resounding 4-0 win.

St George's: A. Gatt, C. Grech, A. Bonello, K. Xuereb (B. Borg), J. Delia, G. Tanti (J. Zammit), C. Caruana, P. Anizoba, E. Amaira (V. Camilleri), L. Agius, H. Schembri.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Caruana, G. Bonello, A. Ewurun (B. Zerafa), M. Tanti, D. Grech, K. Mifsud (C. Cuschieri), S. Aquilina, E. Azzopardi, D. Cosaitis, D. Okonkwo.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Darren Grech (Senglea).

Camoin boosts Qormi's promotion bid

Qormi 1
St Patrick 0

Qormi re-ignited their promotion bid with a 1-0 victory over St Patrick thanks to a fine Clyde Camoin goal in the second half.

For St Patrick, this loss is another blow for their survival hopes as they stay bottom alongside Marsa and Mellieha, all on nine points.

It was Qormi who created the first scoring chance. This came after 15 minutes when Joseph Farrugia teed up Joseph Chetcuti from a free-kick but the latter's drive ended just wide.

A minute later, Qormi's Camoin guided a short pass to Kurt Zammit who in turn floated the ball in the Saints' box where Grima produced a firm shot that hit the post.

St Patrick responded in the 18th minute through Nigerian Haruna Doda who, having received a pass from Mark Pullicino, fired a scorcher that was deflected away for a corner.

On 24 minutes, St Patrick threatened again following a good run and cross by Chris Grech from the left flank. Qormi defender Jonathan Francica got first to the ball but his deflection almost surprised goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia who just managed to avert the danger.

Qormi improved considerably in the second half and were unlucky when, on 65 minutes, Farrugia's cross was met by Chetcuti whose shot on the turn just missed the target.

St Patrick replied two minutes later when Thomas Caruana worked his way to the edge of the penalty area but his effort was saved by Farrugia.

With 20 minutes left, Qormi scored what proved to be the winner when Farrugia produced a cross from the right and Camoin's volley touched the post on its way into the net.

St Patrick pushed more men upfield in search of an equaliser in the final stages, going close with two efforts by Gordon Failla.

The Saints' best chance for an equaliser came two minutes from the end but Doda hit the post after Farrugia spilled Simon Zerafa's cross.

In stoppage time, dissent from the St Patrick bench led referee Juergen Spiteri to dismiss Arnold Buttigieg, an unused substitute, and Pullicino.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, M. Caruana, J. Francica, J. Saliba, K. Zammit, C. Camoin, J. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti, A. Debono, C. Formosa (P. Camilleri), L. Grima (M. Borg Olivier).

St Patrick: D. Cassar, R. Cassar, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa, C. Grech, M. Pullicino (G. Failla), M. Scerri (V. Camilleri), T. Caruana, C. Micallef (S. Magro), H. Doda, E. Borg.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Man of the match: Joseph Chetcuti (Qormi).

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