Melita 1
Rabat Ajax 0

Melita were crowned Division One champions after a late goal by Julian Galea earned them a 1-0 win over Rabat Ajax at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

Both Melita and Rabat had assured themselves of promotion to the Premier League last week and were determined to wrap up a positive campaign by clinching the Division One championship.

In front of the biggest crowd of the season, Melita were the better side throughout as they held the edge in midfield against a Rabat side who opted for a defensive approach as they knew that a point was enough for them to win the title.

However, that tactic backfired as after conceding the goal late on they had little time to find an equaliser.

It was Rabat who did the early running and after 13 minutes an Adam Smeir drive finished just over.

Melita started to dominate possession but it was only late in the first half that they threatened the Rabat defence.

On 41 minutes a Jovan Vukanic cross picked Manwel Ramon Sierra Camacho whose half-volley finished just wide.

The Amateurs were unlucky on the stroke of half-time when George Gribbon headed on to the bar following a Karl Vella Petroni cross.

Melita continued to hold the initiative after the break and on 49 minutes Galea’s long-range shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

Galea should have put the Amateurs ahead on 58 minutes but he fired wide with only Mintoff to beat.

Ten minutes later, the Rabat keeper again denied Galea from routine distance.

Melita’s pressure was finally rewarded on 79 minutes when from a Vella Petroni corner kick Galea hit a powerful drive that passed through several players and into the the back of the net.

Vukanic almost made it 2-0 a minute later but his cross-shot came off the bar.

Rabat finally threatened on 83 minutes when Adam Smeir’s shot finished just wide.

The Magpies continued to push forward and on 87 minutes Melita goalkeeper Matthew Sapiano did well to push away Vilson Caushi’s header as the Amateurs held on to the win.

At the end of the match MFA vice-president Carmelo Bartolo presented the championship trophy to Melita captain George Gribbon.

Melita: M. Sapiano, M.R. Sierra Camacho, G. Gribbon, M. Martin, M. Borg (A. Caruana Scicluna), K. Micallef (T. Terpougoff), J. Galea, L. Micallef, K. Vella Petroni, S. Galea (M. Valenzia), J. Vukanic.

Rabat: S. Mintoff, C. Schembri, J. Cornforth, J. Caruana, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, C. Muscat, Y. Cauchi (V. Caushi), R. Micallef (A. Rustemi), D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Best player: Michael Martin (Melita).

Standings