San Ġwann push Senglea closer to relegation

Senglea Athletic 0
San Ġwann 1

San Ġwann moved closer to retain their place in Division One after they edged past bottom-placed Senglea Athletic yesterday.

By virtue of this win, the Saints remained third from bottom with 17 points but have a four-point lead over second-from-bottom Rabat Ajax with four matches to go. Senglea, on their part, are bottom with only eight points and look to be heading to Division Two football next season.

Joe Brincat's San Ġwann started on the offensive and could have forged ahead after only a minute. Firas Aboulezz's shot from inside the area was blocked and from the rebound the Saints forward saw his shot blocked by George Attard.

Senglea responded on 21 minutes when Justin Felice's fierce drive from a free-kick was partially blocked by Justin Spiteri and from the rebound Daniel Cosaitis was again denied by the San Ġwann goalkeeper.

On 37 minutes Senglea should have drawn level but Leroy Bonett failed to profit from some hesitant defending by the Saints and shot straight at goalkeeper Spiteri.

Two minutes from the break, Felice broke through but the Senglea striker was too hesitant and was blocked by Spiteri.

Senglea paid dearly for their poor finishing as on the stroke of half-time San Ġwann struck. Aboulezz turned past two defenders and stroke the ball into the roof of the net.

After the break, San Ġwann soon gained control and on 51 minutes substitute Ryan Zammit's shot finished just over. Senglea almost equalised nine minutes from time but George Falzon's header was blocked by Spiteri.

On 88 minutes, San Ġwann were reduced to ten men when Jonathan Buttigieg was sent off for a second bookable offence but they still managed to administer their advantage till the end.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis (G. Falzon), S. Aquilina, B. Zerafa, D. Zahra, L. Bonnet (C. Borg), K. Ellul, S. Zampa, I. Tarek, A. Sciortino, J. Felice (G. Brincat).

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri; C. Giordmaina, M. Francica, J. Buttigieg, A. Borg, F. Aboulezz, L. Cumbo, S. Hili, R. Brincat (R. Zammit), S. Pisani, A. Zahra, (R. Sell, D. Debono).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Man of the Match: Steven Pisani (San Ġwann).

Rabat Ajax 2
Mqabba 0

Rabat Ajax kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop after they grabbed a vital win over Mqabba at the Hibs Ground yesterday.

The Magpies, inspired by Wilson Caushi and Adam Smeir, fully deserved the victory as they produced a good tactical performance to grab three vital points in their bid to retain their status.

The first chance of the match came from Rabat after 21 minutes when Caushi's header was blocked by an Mqabba defender. Minutes later, Caushi was again close but his shot hit the side-netting.

Mqabba thought they had scored on 27 minutes when John Paul Muscat fired the ball into the Rabat net but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside of the Mqabba forward.

Rabat responded on 33 minutes when Smeir served Michael Micallef whose long-range shot just missed the target.

Rabat took the lead on 37 minutes when Smeir anticipated Mqabba goalkeeper Kris Calleja on a Caushi cross to head the ball into the net.

Rabat were now in full control and on the stroke of half-time Calleja had to dive well to block Darren Galea's shot.

Mqabba were full of promise after the break and on 46 minutes Michael Borg Olivier's header finished just over while minutes later the Mqabba forward shot just wide from close in.

Rabat finally threatened on 71 minutes when Tonna just missed the target from a Caushi corner.

Mqabba coach Bobby Giorev sent on Nigerian striker Paul Chimezie to save the match but to no avail as Rabat sealed the points on 74 minutes when Caushi bundled the ball into an empty net from a Smeir cross.

Rabat: J. Borg, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, A. Smeir (A. Mifsud), D. Galea (G. Magri), D. Falzon, M. Micallef, C. Schembri, E. Muscat, W. Caushi, E. Azzopardi.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, J. Debattista, P. Borg, P. Grima, S. Magro, D. Azzopardi (P. Chimezie), C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat, E. Borg, J. Zammit (M. Mifsud), M. Borg Olivier.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the Match: Adam Smeir (Rabat Ajax).