Vittoriosa consolidate promotion hopes

Balzan Youths 0
Vittoriosa Stars 2

A goal after just 15 seconds and another in injury time were enough for Vittoriosa Stars to return to winning ways as they also consolidated their promotion credentials.

The Cottonera side are now level with leaders Marsaxlokk at the top of the league, even though the southseasiders have a game in hand.

It was an entertaining encounter which saw Balzan play a shade better than their opponents despite falling behind early on.

However, after the break, Vittoriosa controlled the game and went on to seal the three points with a second goal.

Balzan Youths had several players suspended after the rift with Mosta at the end of their encounter last week. Surely the Youths felt the weight on their side as they had the likes of Simon Shead, Rennie Forace, and Jonathan Francica missing. They were also unlucky that they lost Ivan Zammit after 20 minutes and just before the break their new signing Silvan Ciscaldi also had to go off injured.

Incredibly it took only 15 seconds for Vittoriosa to take the lead when Henry Makinwa's header beat Frederick Tabone. Balzan replied immediately and two minutes later Anizoba missed a sitter when shooting wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Balzan continued to dominate the proceedings and Onuorah missed another great chance when shooting wide following a David Carabott cross.

On 22 minutes Vittoriosa came close when a drive from just inside the area by Beppe Muscat was again kept out by Tabone. Minutes later it was the Balzan custodian who again pushed away Makinwa's piledriver.

Just before the break, Balzan went close again when Anizoba beat two defenders but his drive was kept out by Bonello.

On resumption, a Chitescu free-kick found Muscat who with only Tabone to beat headed wide when it looked easier to score. On 55 minutes, another Chitescu free-kick brought the best out of Tabone.

Vittoriosa now upped their momentum and Clayton Micallef's shot was again saved by Tabone.

In injury time Vittoriosa Stars made sure of the points when Chitescu beat Tabone directly from a free-kick.

Balzan: F. Tabone, D. Fenech, R. Farrugia, B. Bondin (L. Micallef), I. Zammit (S. Aquilina), C. Micallef, D. Carabott, S. Ciscaldi (M. Sciortino), M. Onuorah, P. Anizoba, A. Agius.

Vittoriosa: H. Bonello, P. Aquilina, B. Bonnici, J. Xerri, J. Camilleri, B. Muscat, C. Micallef, L. Chitescu, E. Vella (J. Spiteri), G. Inguanez (P. Camilleri), H. Makinwa.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Leontin Chitescu (Vittoriosa Stars).

St Patrick 0
Mqabba 1

After two successive defeats against Melita and Pietà Hotspurs, Mqabba registered a much needed win under new mentor Clive Mizzi who replaced Borislav Giorev. This was a deserved victory for Mqabba as despite failing to dominate they were more organised than their opponents.

The game never reached any great heights, thus confirming that both sides, who in the past were always vying for a top place, are passing through difficult times. The Saints practically used the same side which beat San Ġwann in their last match, while Mqabba changed their style of play especially at the back, playing with 25-year old Elliott Navarro as wing-back.

It was Mqabba who started to produce the better football and after only four minutes a Claudio Calleja drive from the edge of the area was saved by Sean Mintoff. Two minutes later Mqabba took the lead when John Paul Muscat fired a beauty from just inside the box.

Mqabba lowered their rythm after forging ahead but they were still playing the better football. On 21 minutes another Claudio Calleja drive, this time from well outside the area, was saved again by Mintoff in two attempts.

On 31 minutes St Patrick were unlucky not to equalised when Daniel Milovanovic picked up a loose ball outside the area, dribbled past two Mqabba defenders with some neat footwork and as he came face to face with the goalkeeper looked odds on to score when he struck the ball gently goalwards, but out from nowhere, Pierre Grima came to the rescue when he cleared off the line.

Mqabba responded on 37 minutes with another good drive by Claudio Calleja with the ball finishing inches over the crossbar. Five minutes before the break, Muscat came close to scoring his second goal for his side when his chip just missed the target.

The match was a drab affair in the second half. Mqabba looked happy to administer their lead as the Saints' comeback never materialised. On 63 minutes substitute Dillon Pace drove the ball into the side-netting following a Bronwen Bugeja cross.

Three minutes later, Mqabba replied when a Vilson Caushi drive was saved again by Mintoff.

On 75 minutes Muscat stole a ball on the right flank from Ryan Mifsud, the Mqabba striker rounded the Saints defender before picking up Caushi whose close-range effort was kept out by Mintoff.

St Patrick: S. Mintoff; M. Fleri Soler, R. Mifsud, B. Bugeja, L. Sciberras, M. Pullicino (T. Farrugia), S. Dimech (A. Ellul), Y. Tonna, S. Zerafa, D. Milovanovic, J. Farrugia (D. Pace).

Mqabba: K. Calleja: M. Bonnici, P.Grima, P. Borg, S. Magro, C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat (M.Anastasi), E. Navarro (E. Borg), J. Debattista, V. Caushi, G. Barry (M.Gauci).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba).