Tarxien join Mosta and Qormi at the top

Tarxien Rainbows 2
Dingli Swallows 1

Tarxien Rainbows joined Mosta and Qormi at the top of the First Division standings after they beat Dingli for the second time this season following a 3-1 victory in the first round.

The outcome also meant that Tarxien are now favourites to make it to the Premier League as Mosta and Qormi will forfeit points in next Saturday's direct clash. Only two matches remain before the end of the championship.

This was an evenly-contested match, but if there was a team that really deserved to win it was Tarxien. They had more possession and goal-scoring opportunities with Angus Buhagiar very much in the picture for the winners.

Tarxien took the lead early in the game when Omar Grech sent an inviting ball inside the box. Simon Shead failed to make any contact but Buhagiar was better placed to hit home.

In the 11th minute Dingli were unlucky when Etienne Farrugia's shot from the right hit the post with Sean Cini well beaten.

Buhagiar could have made it 2-0 but his effort from inside the box was kept out by keeper Jeffrey Farrugia following a Grech corner. The game remained balanced with both sides vying for the upperhand.

On 36 minutes, Tarxien again went close when a Buhagiar drive hit the crossbar.

Tarxien continued to attack but a minute before the break Uchanna Anywanna headed into the roof of the net a Christian Muscat free-kick. This was the only time Tarxien were caught napping in the opening half.

Tarxien went all out in attack after the break. Manwel Caruana's header was saved by Farrugia following a pass by John Paul Muscat, the on-loan striker from Mqabba.

Then, Essien Mbong produced a first-time effort from just outside the area with the ball finishing inches high. That was the prelude to Tarxien's goal as on 65 minutes defender Caruana rose above the Dingli defence to head in an Andrew Decesare corner.

Nine minutes from time Tarxien could have put their minds at rest when Buhagiar, after avoiding the challenge of some Dingli defenders, saw his thundering effort being saved in style by Farrugia.

Tarxien: S. Cini, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg (J.P. Muscat), O. Grech (A. Mangion), E. Mbong, S. Shead (M. Pisani), A. Buhagiar, A. Decesare, R. Schembri, L. Vella Critien.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, E. Casha, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri (D. Roe), C. Ciappara, V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius (J. Sapiano), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (C. Tabone), U. Anywanna.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Angus Buhagiar (Tarxien Rainbows).