Battling Saints rewarded with late equaliser

St Andrew’s 1
Dingli Swallows 1

St Andrew’s salvaged a point late in this Group Two qualifier but they are now surely out of the reckoning as Dingli Swallows are still in the running for second spot behind leaders Mqabba even though they were expected to do much better against the Saints yesterday.

St Andrew’s showed progress on their last outing and should have taken an early lead when Patrick Briscoe White was clear on goal but was thwarted by keeper Jeffrey Farrugia who came rushing out to block what seemed a certain goal.

Dingli responded with an inviting Chris Azzopardi delivery that found no takers in the Saints’ box. Two minutes later, Chris Ciappara’s header finished just over the Saints’ bar from a Kevin Borg cross.

St Andrew’s were seeing more of the ball in those initial stages but it was Dingli who went close again when Jareilly Chirino’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Darren Ibrahim.

At the other end, a Michael Valenzia effort from the distance saw Farrugia on the right spot to keep the Dingli net intact. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Firaz Alhakua played a one-two with Kurt Galea with the latter shooting high and wide from two metres out and Farrugia beaten.

A Briscoe White volley was a whisker away from target as the second half got underway. Dingli drew first blood though thanks to Chirino. He punished a hesitant Ronni Hartvig on 51 minutes following an Azzopardi ball inside the Saints’ box.

This was the Saints’ last match in the KO competition. They did not want to finish empty-handed and hit back strongly, pinning the Swallows back in their own half. However, despite their efforts, Wayne Attard’s team lacked punch up front.

The Saints were dangerously running out of time when their attacking stance was rewarded on 90 minutes, William Camilleri heading home the equaliser from a free-kick taken by Valenzia and nodded into the box by Briscoe White at the far post.

St Andrew’s: D. Ibrahim, J. Bugeja, M. Borg, R. Hartvig, N. Chetcuti (K. Coleiro), P. Briscoe White, J. Briscoe White, M. Valenzia, K. Galea (W. Camilleri), N. Vella Petroni (E. Grima), F. Alhakua.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, S. Tellus, R. Spiteri, R. Vella, C. Ciappara (K. Bonavia), K. Formosa, E. Farrugia, K. Borg, R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi, J. Chirino.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Group Two
Mqabba (4-0-0) 12; Dingli (1-1-1) 4, Pieta (1-1-1) 4; St George’s (1-0-3) 3; St Andrew’s (0-2-2) 2.