Derby joy for Saints

St George's 2
Senglea Athletic 0

Two goals inside the opening seven minutes gave St George's a deserved win over Senglea Athletic in a lively derby at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

Although the game was played at a fast pace, St George's early two-goal burst had a massive bearing on the game with Joey Falzon's side looking calm and composed throughout.

The Saints had Silvio Sciberras in superb form as he was involved in most of his side's attacks, delivering passes into the path of striker John Nwoba. To make it worse for Senglea, they finished the match with 10 men after Daniel Cosaitis was sent off for dissent.

St George's couldn't have had a better start as after four minutes, Emerson Amaira headed home a Sciberras free-kick.

With Senglea shocked by this early setback, St George's hit a second on seven minutes. Chasing a long ball from keeper Andrea Gatt, Nwoba gained possession, ran past goalkeeper Elvin Attard and hammered the ball home.

A minute later, St George's almost made it 3-0 but a Lawrence Mizzi drive from the edge of the area finished just over the bar following a precise Sciberras centre.

Senglea took 20 minutes to venture forward for the first time with Leeroy Bonett's drive from just inside the Saints' box saved in style by Gatt.

But that was a rare attacking opportunity for Senglea in the opening half. On one occasion, Nwoba again sprinted into the opponents' half but his shot came off the bar.

After the change of ends, Senglea looked a different lot and on 53 minutes, a Joseph Farrugia drive from just inside the box was off target. Minutes later Justin Felice was unlucky when his grounder rolled past the wrong side of the Saints' upright.

But as the minutes ticked away, St George's again regained control of the proceedings. On 76 minutes, Nwoba saw his header stopped by the alert Attard. Senglea finished the match with 10 men when Cosaitis was red-carded for protests.

St George's
A. Gatt, C. Grech, A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, S. Sciberras, I. Curmi (G. Bonello), J. Nwoba, L. Mizzi (T. Thomas), B. Fenech (C. Schiavone), E. Amaira, E. Degabriele.

Senglea
E. Attard, D. Cosaitis, D. Zahra, S. Zampa (M. Schembri), J. Abela (N. Abela), E. Azzopardi, A. Sciortino, J. Farrugia, J. Felice (J. Gatt), O. Ellul, L. Bonett.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Red card: Cosaitis (S) 80.

Man of the match: Silvio Sciberras (St George's).