St George's end season with high-scoring win

St George's 7
San Ġwann 2

St George's ended the season in style after cruising to a 7-2 win over San Ġwann, the latter a shadow of the side that played so well the week before to beat St Patrick and preserve their Division One status.

St George's have completed the double over San Ġwann this season after beating them 3-0 in the first round.

This was an open game as the scoreline clearly indicates.

St George's went close to taking an early lead but Mark Gauci shot wide from an inviting position. San Ġwann were more incisive on 16 minutes as Ryan Zammit slotted the ball home from Marco Mercieca's centre.

St George's equalised on 23 minutes thanks to a John Nwoba goal and five minutes later, the Cottonera side went ahead. Nwoba sprinted through before hitting low past goalkeeper Frank Axisa.

San Ġwann levelled matters on the half hour when Roberto Brincat concluded some fine work by Sergio Hili to score from six metres out.

San Ġwann were in control and on 34 minutes, Zammit almost put his team in front but his shot whizzed past the post.

However, St George's were always dangerous from counter-attacks and seven minutes from half-time, Clint Schiavone beat keeper Axisa with a swerving shot from an angle.

Both teams threw caution to the wind in this end-of-season stroll. Thirteen minutes into the second half, Gauci flicked home from close range to make it 4-2 for St George's.

Twelve minutes later, Gauci, despite being shadowed by two defenders, managed to find a gap before firing the ball home.

San Ġwann failed to last the pace and St George's took advantage to add two more goals to their tally, the first from Glenn Bonello who headed home a minute from time, and then Nwoba hit a stoppage-time scorcher, giving the Saints keeper no chance.

St George's: T. Galea, A. Bonello, E. Degabriele (D. Galea), E. Sevasta, J. Nwoba, M. Gauci (I. Curmi), E. Amaira, B. Fenech (V. Camilleri), C. Schiavone, G. Bonello J. Dalli.

San Ġwann: F. Axisa, L. Cumbo, R. Brincat, S. Hili (F. Aboulezz), R. Sell, M. Mercieca, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri (J. Buttigieg), M. Francica (M. Caruana), R. Zammit, C. Giordemaina.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the match: John Nwoba (St George's).

St Patrick 3
Senglea Athletic 2

St Patrick finished the season in fourth place, level with St George's on 27 points, following this hard-fought win over lowly Senglea.

Although Winston Muscat's team dominated for long stretches, relegated Senglea deserve praise for their battling display.

St Patrick had been bracketed among the promotion favourites last summer but they lost precious points largely due to erratic finishing by their forwards. Muscat needs to acquire a couple of deadly strikers in the transfer market if St Patrick are to seriously challenge for promotion next season.

Senglea took less than two minutes to open the scoring when Ibrahim Tarek's cross-shot deceived Sean Mintoff in the St Patrick goal.

St Patrick's response was immediate. Gary Inguanez and Peter Anizoba combined before the latter let fly a powerful drive on 35 minutes that keeper George Attard failed to hold. From the rebound, Inguanez was on the right spot to score.

A minute from the end of the first half, Senglea went close through defender Simon Aquilina whose drive was tipped away for a corner by Mintoff.

Thomas Caruana looked odds on to put the Saints in front soon after the restart but his shot was blocked by defender Daniel Zahra for a corner.

On 68 minutes, Senglea regained the lead when a free-kick taken by Tarek gave substitute goalkeeper David Cassar no chance.

St Patrick might have equalised soon after but Caruana's shot was stopped by Attard. Caruana was set up by Anizoba who nodded down an Inguanez delivery from the right.

But St Patrick managed to draw level again on 74 minutes when Anizoba picked up a ball in the Senglea box before hitting home from an acute angle.

Senglea were stunned and four minutes later, St Patrick went in front for the first time. Retrieving possession in the opponents' half, Beppe Muscat powered his way past a couple of defenders before hitting low past Attard for the winner.

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

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Zahra, I. Tarek, J. Felice, E. Mbong, B. Zerafa, S. Aquilina, D. Cosaitis (P. Borg), A. Sciortino, C. Borg (G. Brincat), J. Spiteri.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Man of the match: Ibrahim Tarek (Senglea).

Top scorers

15 goals - S. Shead (Pietá), A. Eviparker (Vittoriosa)
12 goals - U. Anywanna (Dingli)
11 goals - M. Deanov (Pietá)

Playing tomorrow

Championship decider (Hibs Ground): 7 p.m. Vittoriosa vs Dingli.