Martin scores hat-trick in Mosta's victory

Mqabba 2
Mosta 5

Gilbert Martin was the man who stole the show when he scored a hat-trick to give Mosta a convincing victory over Mqabba, who are now in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Mosta started the game strongly and after three minutes Lyden Micallef missed a sitter when blasting over from routine distance.

A minute later Micallef turned provider when he found Victor Osubu, who from inside the area drove the ball inches wide.

Mosta forged ahead in the 27th minute when Martin was brought down in the box by Patrick Borg and from the penalty spot Mark Briggs scored with ease.

Mqabba came back strongly and managed to draw level in the 37th minute when Jean Paul Muscat controlled a Pierre Grima free-kick and the Mqabba striker drove the ball past the Mosta keeper.

On resumption, Mosta again forged ahead when Micallef found Martin who scored with a low drive.

Mqabba suffered a severe setback when they had Mauro Bonnici sent off for retaliation.

Despite such a setback Mqabba equalised immediately when Shaun Magro was fouled in the box and Martin Anastasi scored from the spot.

Mosta regained the lead on 67 minutes when Vella beat the offside trap to score with a low shot. Four minutes later, Martin blasted the ball home from just inside the area.

Ten minutes before the end Mqabba had a goal disallowed but three minutes later Gilbert Martin made it a hat-trick of goals when in a swift counter-attack tapped home.

Mqabba: K. Ellul, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, G. Barry (O. Grech), W. Caushi, J.P. Muscat (E. Borg), J. Debattista, M. Anastasi.

Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, B. Galea, L. Stivala, M. Briggs, M. Brincat, J. Vella, G. Martin (J. Bajada), L. Micallef (P. Vassallo), V. Osobu (L. Grima), T. Vella.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: Gilbert Martin (Mosta).