Precious points for Mosta

St Andrew’s 2
Mosta 3

Mosta succeeded in coasting through to victory despite conceding two early goals to sound a stern warning to their main challengers for promotion.

Despite coming up against a St Andrew’s side that was tough to crack and improving by every match, Oliver Spiteri’s Blues never threw in the towel and kept coming back to finally clinch the points.

The first 45 minutes produced some fine fare from both sides with St Andrew’s starting strongly, taking a two-goal lead and putting promotion hopefuls Mosta in all sorts of trouble.

It took only five minutes for the Saints to open the score and what a goal it was.

Nicky Vella Petroni picked up a loose ball and let fly a scorcher from 30 metres out with the ball hitting the back of the net like a bullet and giving goalkeeper Jonathan Debono no chance.

The Saints continued to dictate matters and it was no surprise that they doubled their lead on 14 minutes.

A Ronnie Hartvig free-kick flew past the Mosta wall with the ball hitting low into the net and Debono beaten for the second time in less than ten minutes.

Although jaded, Mosta reacted strongly and Adrian Borg looked odds on to pull one back following a William Camenzuli cross, but Andrew Camilleri Kamsky was covering well in the Saints defence to block for a corner.

The Blues pinned the Saints in their own half and on 35 minutes Neil Chetcuti pulled Gilbert Martin down as the Mosta striker tried to shoot from close range and a penalty was given. Mark Briggs stepped up to score.

Mosta drew level five minutes from half-time when Nikola Bogdanovic headed home a Camenzuli ball and they could have forged ahead before the break but with goalkeeper Filippo Carandente out of position, Camenzuli hit just wide.

St Andrew’s looked better as the second half got underway.

Substitute Morgan Onuorah tried his luck from just inside the Mosta box with the ball finishing just wide and on 50 minutes it was Vella Petroni who hit hard from outside the penalty-area but this time Debono did well to save for a corner.

A Camenzuli bombshell was stopped by Carandente and at the other end Vella Petroni saw his shot saved by Debono.

Hartvig saved the Saints when he cleared off the line a Kane Farrugia effort. Mosta thought the former Birkirkara defender used his hand to stop the ball but the referee waved play on.

Mosta, however, completed the comeback soon after when Cam-enzuli played a perfect one-two with Simon Shead before burying the ball home.

The Saints tried to hit back and on 74 minutes a Michael Valenzia shot from the distance was saved by Debono.

Mosta opted for prudence for the remainder of the match to secure three useful points.

St Andrew’s: F. Carandente, J. Briscoe White (E. Grima), J. Bugeja, R. Hartvig, A. Camilleri Kamsky (M. Desira Buttigieg), M. Valenzia, W. Camilleri (M. Onuorah), N. Chetcuti, F. Alhakua, N. Vella Petroni, K. Coleiro.

Mosta: J. Debono, K. Farrugia, M. Briggs, G. Martin (P. Vassallo), A. Borg, N. Bogdanovic, B. Agius, K. Spiteri, W. Camenzuli, S. Shead (M. Brincat), A. Firas (R. Deguara).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Man of the match: William Camenzuli (Mosta).