St George's net third victory

St George's 2
Dingli Swallows 1

St George's extended their winning start to three games yesterday after a 2-1 victory over Dingli Swallows who finished the match with nine men after Ryan Mintoff and Kurt Formosa were sent off.

The match was finely-poised but the Saints were rewarded for their efficiency in front of goal as they took the chances that came their way. Dingli again showed flashes of good football and will consider themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the game but a lack of firepower up front led to their downfall yesterday.

After only 11 minutes, a powerful shot from Dingli's Victor Fiteni finished just wide.

Four minutes later, Formosa fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area but St George's goalkeeper Andrea Gatt blocked his effort.

Dingli came close to breaking the deadlock on 34 minutes. Formosa orchestrated a good move as he crossed towards Roderick Spiteri who found the unmarked Chris Ciappara. The latter's point-blank effort was blocked on the goal-line by Emmanuel Sevasta.

Two minutes later, it was St George's who stormed in front. John Nwoba poked the ball home after Chris Grech had dallied around a static Dingli rearguard.

St George's made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half. A fine move between Lawrence Mizzi and Glenn Bonello ended with the latter firing home past Jeffrey Farrugia.

Dingli looked dead and buried as the Saints were in charge of the proceedings. Coach Jesmond Zammit introduced veteran striker Mark Galea and on 67 minutes Dingli got back into the reckoning. A long ball from defence caught the Saints' defence on the wrong foot and Ciappara crossed for Anywanna who headed home from close range.

Dingli now pushed more men forward while the Saints tried to hit their opponents on the counter.

Seven minutes from time, Clint Schiavone ran past a couple of Dingli defenders but was denied by a brilliant save from Farrugia.

In stoppage time, referee Juergen Spiteri had to keep a firm grip on the match as tempers flared. Dingli's Mintoff and Formosa were red-carded for dissent.

St George's
A. Gatt, C. Grech (B. Fenech), A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, C. Schiavone, J. Nwoba, L. Mizzi (I. Curmi), E. Amaira, E. Degabriele, H. Schembri, G. Bonello (V. Camilleri).

Dingli Swallows
J. Farrugia, R. Mintoff, E. Casha, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, K. Formosa, V. Fiteni (C. Caruana), J. Agius (C. Azzopardi), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (M. Galea), U. Anywanna.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Scorers: Nwoba (SG) 36; Bonello (SG) 50; Anywanna (D) 67.

Red cards: Mintoff (D); Formosa (D).

Man of the match: Heatcliffe Schembri (St George's).