San Ġwann trounce St Patrick to boost survival aspirations

St Patrick 1
San Ġwann 6

San Ġwann kept alive their hopes of retaining their Division One status after crushing ten-man St Patrick in a match that came into life after the interval.

Joe Brincat's men took just 16 minutes to forge ahead when Ryan Sell fired the ball home after being set up by Clint Gatt. Two minutes later Mario Caruana picked up a short clearance and beat Sean Mintoff with a firm drive from just outside the area.

St Patrick bridged the gap on 19 minutes when Thomas Caruana stormed into the San Ġwann area and shot past Spiteri from a close angle.

On 24 minutes, David Gauci's long-range drive was well saved by Spiteri.

St Patrick's hopes were dented on 38 minutes when Yannis Tonna, who had just come on for Terrence Farrugia was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Despite having a man less, St Patrick could have equalised when Caruana found the unmarked Daniel Milovanic who drove the ball wide.

A minute before the break, San Ġwann made it 3-1 when 17-year old Peter Xuereb pounced on to a Steve Pisani cross to score from two metres out.

On the restart, San Ġwann were determined to put the game to bed and after Steve Pisani hit the foot of the post after two minutes, he netted the fourth goal on 51 minutes when he intercepted a Gordon Failla pass and hit the ball home.

On 73 minutes, San Ġwann made it 5-1 when Clint Gatt beat the offside trap, dribbled past Mintoff and pushed the ball into an empty net.

Sell wrapped up the points for San Ġwann in time added on when his fierce drive was partially blocked by Mintoff but was first to react to the rebound to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

St Patrick: S. Mintoff, S. Dimech, M. Pullicino (G. Failla), D. Gauci, M. Fleri Soler, R. Mifsud, L. Sciberras, J. Farrugia, T. Farrugia (Y. Tonna), T. Caruana, D. Milovanovic

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri (J.M. Vella), R. Newell (D. Micallef), M. Caruana, M. Francica, L. Cumbo, R. Sammut, A. Borg, P. Xuereb, R. Sell, S. Pisani, C. Gatt (K. Vella).

Referee: Fiodor Zammit.

Man of the match: Steve Pisani (San Ġwann).

Mqabba 4
Pietà Hotspurs 0

Mqabba eased past fellow relegation strugglers Pietà Hotspurs to end a run of seven matches without a win and move away from the bottom places.

Mqabba dominated the first 45 minutes as they fought for every ball and never gave Pietà time to settle down.

After only 12 minutes John Paul Muscat missed a sitter for Mqabba when he was put through by Claudio Calleja, but shot wide from in front of goal.

But Mqabba managed to forge ahead a minute later when Elliott Navarro headed home from a Pierre Grima free-kick.

On 23 minutes, John Paul Muscat made amends for his earlier miss when he ran at the Pietà defence and after beating a couple of defenders, rounded Miguel Montfort to score.

Mqabba were now running the show and on 33 minutes Mohammed Alabi Olalekam tripped Mark Gauci in the area and a penalty was awarded. Calleja took responsibility only to see his well taken drive magnificently saved by Montfort.

At the start of the second half Andrew Scerri had a shot deflected to a corner following a Jesmond Azzopardi cross as Pietà tried to force a comeback.

In the 67th minute Pietà had a great chance to get back into the game when Alabi sprinted well to a defensive clearance but his drive hit the sidenetting.

But the Hotspurs suffered a severe setback on 65 minutes when Sheldon Grech was sent-off for dissent after he had already been booked.

With 15 minutes to go, Muscat hit a first time effort from inside the area just wide while two minutes later Mark Gauci put the game to bed following a good cross from Muscat.

Eight minutes from time, Sean Magro added a fourth with a fine solo move to wrap up a vital win for Mqabba.

Mqabba: K. Calleja ; M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg (G. Barry), S. Magro, M. Gauci, J. Debattista (M. Anthony Psaila), C. Calleja (O.Grech), J.P. Muscat, E. Navarro, M. Anastasi.

Pietà: M. Montfort, C. Spiteri (B. Perry Acton), J. Delia (A. Scerri), B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo, M. Alabi Olekam, S. Grech, C. Cassar, I. Grech, J. Azzopardi (G. Goodlip), S. Pace.

Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: John Paul Muscat (Mqabba).