Dingli hand Pietà first defeat

Pietà Hotspurs 1
Dingli Swallows 3

Dingli Swallows handed Pietà Hotspurs their first defeat of the season to go top of the standings level on points with the same Hotspurs.

Despite falling behind early on, the Swallows came back strongly, scoring three times to go into the interval with a comfortable lead.

On the restart, the Hotspurs launched a second half assault on the Dingli goal but to no avail as Jesmond Zammit's men look a good bet for promotion to the Premier League next season.

It was Pietà who struck first. The clock marked 13 minutes when veteran striker Simon Shead bundled the ball home from close in.

Pieta's joy was short-lived, though, as Dingli drew level nine minutes later. Hotspurs defenders Bernard Sciberras and Gary Busuttil were caught napping on a long pass and Uchanna Anywanna squeezed in between the two players and hit home with a beautiful scissors-kick.

On 25 minutes, Anywanna controlled an Etienne Farrugia measured pass and the Nigerian drove the ball into the Hotspurs net.

Clive Mizzi's side looked stunned and Dingli continued to dictate the show and it was no surprise when they scored a third on 33 minutes. Ryan Mintoff fired home from close range from another Farrugia service.

Pietà tried to get back into the game after the break when they had the majority of play but Dingli controlled proceedings.

The Hotspurs suffered a blow on 67 minutes when Pulo was shown the red card when he kicked the corner flag in anger when he was about to be substituted by Dominic Mifsud.

Numerical parity was restored a minute later when Christian Muscat was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

In time added on, Dingli's Chris Ciappara saw his curling free-kick hit the crossbar.

Pietà: I. Cassar; C. Spiteri, B. Sciberras, G. Busuttil (K.M. Robinson), M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi, Q. Refalo (C.Sammut), C. Pulo (D. Mifsud), S. Shead, S.Poulangoye, S. Pace.

Dingli: J. Farrgia; R. Spiteri, K. Formosa, V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, G. Failla (J. Agius), R. Mintoff, M. Galea (C. Ciappara), U. Anywanna.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Man of the Match: Uchanna Anywanna (Dingli Swallows).