Eviparker's poker finishes off Mellieha

Mellieha 3
Vittoriosa Stars 6

Anthony Eviparker not only scored four goals yesterday but also played a blinder in a handsome victory for his side Vittoriosa Stars over Mellieha.

The result propelled Vittoriosa into safer waters, leaving Marsa, St Patrick and Mellieha to fight it out to avoid the drop.

Although the northerners were at the end of such a heavy defeat, at times they played the better football. But, as had happened for most of the season, their poor defensive cover let them down badly and for the umpteenth time suffered soft goals.

Vittoriosa took the lead after 11 minutes when Martin Camilleri brought down Robert Adami in the box and a penalty was given. Eviparker took the spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Mellieha equalised in the 19th minute when from a short corner Camilleri crossed in the Vittoriosa area and the unmarked William Borg headed the ball home.

After this goal, Ilir Pelinku's side started to show the better ideas and on 33 minutes they could have even scored again when Ibrahim Tarek freed Sandro Costa Brasilino on the left flank and the latter's cross was finished off just wide by Borg from close distance.

However, Keith Darmanin scored a beauty of a goal when hitting home from a free-kick to put the Stars 2-1 ahead. Eviparker also hit the target just before the break after outsmarting defenders Luke Cauchi and Hubert Vella.

On resumption, Gianluca Calabretta put Mellieha back in the reckoning when he persisted in attack to pull one back for his side.

On 53 minutes a Calabretta first-time effort from just outside the box finished just wide. On the hour Costa Brasilino dribbled past three Vittoriosa defenders but his drive was stopped in style by Ivan Cassar.

Mellieha were made to pay on 63 minutes following a mistake by Patrick Camilleri. He misjudged the ball and Eviparker profited from the situation to make it 4-2.

In the 69th minute, Eviparker headed home his fourth goal of the match following a Larry Lagana cross from the right and eight minutes later Leighton Grech scored again for Vittoriosa following a good one-two with Eviparker.

Calabretta left the Vittoriosa defence in his wake when surging on a late run but shot over the bar. In stoppage time Tarek did better than his team-mate to make the score somewhat more respectable.

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

Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, S. Privitelli, J. Camilleri, C. Sciberras, I. Zammit (D. Gauci), A. Eviparker, K. Darmanin, R. Adami (H. Hughes), L. Lagana, S. Calleja, T. Thomas (L. Grech).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Man of the match: Anthony Eviparker.