Honours shared in keen encounter

Dingli Swallows 1
Ciappara 20
Pietà Hotspurs 1
Deanov 44 pen.

Dingli and Pietà shared the spoils in a keenly-contested encounter at the Tedesco Stadium. Both teams were looking to make up ground on early pacesetters St Patrick and Mosta but despite their bold efforts, they failed to reach their goal.

Dingli, who played the entire second half with 10 men, were without Jeremy Agius as Chris Ciappara and Uchanna Anywanna led the team's attack. Christian Muscat caught the eye for the Swallows with some fine play and neat passing.

Pietà, meanwhile, confirmed that they are strong enough to challenge for promotion. Clive Mizzi's Hotspurs started as the better side and after only five minutes, a Jean Landry Poulangoye shot, from a Martin Deanov corner, just missed the target.

At the other end, Dingli almost took the lead when an Anywanna free-kick hit the post. But, four minutes later, the side coached by Jesmond Zammit forged ahead when veteran Mark Galea took control before releasing Ciappara who scored with a low drive.

Pietà reacted immediately and in the space of a minute, Jeffrey Farrugia twice saved from two good shots by Simon Shead and Cleaven Cassar.

Pietà continued to press forward but it was Dingli who could have increased their lead on 35 minutes but Ciappara was thwarted by goalkeeper Ivan Cassar.

Seven minutes from half-time, Ciappara should have done better than shooting straight at Cassar. He missed again from the rebound.

A minute before half-time, Pietà equalised when goalkeeper Farrugia floored Cassar in the box. The referee not only ordered a penalty but he also sent the keeper for an early shower with Deanov converting the penalty.

Pietà attacked persistently in the second half with Dingli defending strongly and operating on the counter-attack.

On 66 minutes a Terrence Vella scorcher was saved by stand-in keeper Reuben Grech.

Both teams did their best to score a winner but in the end they had to settle for a point.

Dingli Swallows
J. Farrugia, E. Casha, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara (R. Grech), M. Galea (C. Azzopardi), V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (C. Farrugia), G. Failla, U. Anywanna.

Pietà Hotspurs
I. Cassar, J. Delia, G. Busuttil, M. Deanov, S. Shead (S. Ciscaldi), J.L. Poulangoye, C. Cassar (C. Spiteri), G. Goodlip (R. Refalo), T. Vella, K. Cassar, S. Pace.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Red card: J. Farrugia 44 (D).

Man of the match: Chris Muscat (Dingli).