Dingli Swallows 1
Vittoriosa Stars 3

Vittoriosa continued with their fine run of late to beat Dingli who are now in serious relegation trouble, tied on points with second bottom St Patrick.

With five minutes to go, Carlos Porcari looked to have scored a valid equaliser for Dingli but it was annulled for an infringement spotted by the assistant referee.

Dingli had taken the lead after only five minutes when Chris Azzopardi hit home from just inside the box, his grounder hitting the post before beating keeper Jean Matthias Vella.

Dingli held the initiative and Porcari almost made it 2-0 but Vella was on the right spot to save his header.

Vittoriosa started to show their true mettle just before the half-time break.

Marcelo Pereira fluffed an easy opportunity when he shot wide following a Mark Barbara pass and on the stroke of time Gary Muir saw his effort stopped by keeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

The Stars stretched their positive stance to the second half and drew level on 66 minutes thanks to Pereira’s half-volley that flew past Farrugia.

Dingli were stunned and on 71 minutes Vittoriosa made it 2-1 when Muir tapped the ball home following a fine move initiated by Larry Lagana and Dillon Pace.

But Dingli hit back. A Konda header was stopped by Vella and Francis Owusu’s shot hit the Stars’ woodwork as Porcari was denied by the alert Vittoriosa keeper.

Then, came Porcari’s disallowed goal, which drew strong protests from the Dingli players, and to rub salt into their wound a minute from time Luke Vella Critien sealed it for the Stars after a perfect Pereira pass.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, F. Owusu, K. Pace (P. Ciantar), A. Portelli, R. Micallef, L. Konda, W. Chircop (J. Sapiano), K. Formosa, C. Porcari, R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi (D. Cilia).

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, M. Butti-gieg, L. Lagana, L. Vella Critien, R. Dos Santos, M. Barbara (D. Pace), A. Spiteri (C. Piscopo), K.M. Robinson, M. Pereira, G. Muir, L. Grech (R. Brincat).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Best player: Dillon Pace (Vittoriosa Stars).