Swallows join Stars at the top

Dingli Swallows 2
San Ġwann 2

This was one of the best matches of the season in Division One.

Dingli Swallows failed to bounce back from their recent dismal form but still managed to climb back to the top of the standings together with Vittoriosa Stars with two games to go.

Dingli are still favourites to win promotion for the first time to the Premier League. Their next games are against lowly Senglea and Rabat Ajax, two games they should be able win.

Troubled San Ġwann produced a fighting display to move two points ahead of second-bottom Rabat in the drop zone.

The Saints' next two matches are against St Patrick and St George's while the Magpies play Vittoriosa besides Dingli.

Dingli couldn't have had a better start when after three minutes Etienne Farrugia curled the ball home from just inside the box after some good work by Roderick Spiteri.

San Ġwann reacted immediately and drew level on 19 minutes when Firaz Aboulezz slotted the ball home from a calibrated Lee Cumbo free-kick.

But on 24 minutes Dingli regained the lead when a good one-two between Mark Galea and Farrugia finished with the latter hitting home his fourth goal of the season.

The Saints tried to react but Dingli held tight at the back, ably marshalled by Edwin Casha and Jason Cachia. Spiteri almost made it 3-1 before half-time but his first-time effort, following a Gordon Failla free-kick, was deflected by a defender.

On 50 minutes it was all-square again. Goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia half-parried a Brincat shot but Steve Pisani was on the right spot to score from the rebound.

Farrugia was close to a hat-trick but his shot from close in was saved by Justin Spiteri. Dingli then protested for a penalty when Kurt Formosa was sent tumbling inside the box but the referee waved play on.

Uchanna Anywanna missed a sitter for Dingli and at the other end Aboulezz headed wide from two metres out.

Anywanna missed his chance again with only the goalkeeper to beat in a frantic finale, ruining all the good work Farrugia had done on the right flank.

This was surely not Anywanna's day as on 76 minutes he was put clean through by Jeremy Agius but the Nigerian shot straight at the keeper.

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

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, M. Francica, L. Cumbo, M. Caruana, C. Giordmaina, A. Zahra (R. Sell), R. Brincat, A. Borg, F. Aboulezz, S. Hili (C. Cuschieri), S. Pisani.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Man of the match: Roderick Spiteri (Dingli Swallows).