Thrilling draw

St George's 3
St Patrick 3

St George's and St Patrick figured in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Hibs Ground yesterday but the outcome was of no good to both sides as the club from Żabbar was looking to go second with a victory while the team from Cottonera wanted to get back to winning ways after four consecutive defeats.

Winston Muscat's St Patrick dominated the first half but St George's came back strongly after the restart to return home with a point in their bags after a last-gasp equaliser.

St Patrick settled down quickly and started to press forward right from kick-off. Peter Anizoba was close with a header and Beppe Muscat shot straight at goalkeeper Thomas Galea from close range following some good work by Gary Inguanez.

But it was St George's who nearly struck first when from an inswinging Mark Gauci corner, the ball nearly deceived David Cassar in the St Patrick goal.

Anizoba, however, put his team in front on 18 minutes when he dashed through unimpeded to meet an inviting Simon Zerafa free-kick and tip the ball inside the net.

St George's were stunned and on the half hour St Patrick could have easily made it 2-0 but Matthew Fleri Soler mistimed his header from an inviting position.

Five minutes later St Patrick did double their lead. Following a hasty clearance, the ball hit Heathcliff Schembri's hand and the referee ordered a penalty after consulting with one of his assistants. Thomas Caruana made no mistake from the spot.

St George's looked better in the second half and Iro Curmi almost pulled one back following a Silvio Sciberras free-kick with Cassar producing a superb save.

The pressure from St George's was unrelenting and on 65 minutes a Sciberras shot was stopped by Cassar but on 74 minutes a Gauci header did have the better of the St Patrick keeper.

Two minutes later it was all-square. Sciberras did well to find space on the right flank before delivering a perfect ball to Glenn Bonello who scored the equaliser.

But St Patrick soon regained the initiative and nine minutes from time they were back in front following a superb Anizoba goal.

Everyone expected Joey Falzon's men to crumble but they surged forward in an attempt to save the match.

Pullicino was on the right spot to stop a Bonello shot from going over the line and deep into stoppage time St George's drew level when Curmi fired home from the edge of the box to give his side a precious point.

St George's
T. Galea, S. Sciberras, E. Degabriele (J. Dalli), M. Sevasta, C. Schiavone, I. Curmi, M. Gauci, E. Amaira, H. Schembri, G. Bonello, L. Grima.

St Patrick
D. Cassar, M. Pullicino, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa (R. Briffa), G. Inguanez, T. Caruana (I. Scicluna), K. Formosa (A. Ellul), C. Micallef, P. Anizoba, B. Bonnici, B. Muscat.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

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