Lija condemn St Patrick to Division Two football

St Patrick 1
Lija Athletic 3

St Patrick lost their battle to retain their status as they crashed to a disappointing defeat to Lija Athletic that sealed their relegation to Division Two last night.

A magnificent first half display from Brian Spiteri’s side was enough to win the match for Lija and even if St Patrick were an improved side in the second half, it was a little too late for them to save themselves.

It was Lija Athletic all the way.

After only five minutes Erjon Beu hit the post following some excellent work from Gilbert Camilleri.

A minute later it was Gilbert Camilleri who saw his shot from a free-kick finish just over.

Lija continued to run the show and on 11 minutes Gilbert Camilleri was first to a Beu free-kick, but his header finished just over.

Two minutes later Ige Adeshina hit just wide from a good position while on 14 minutes Matthew Fleri Soler fired inches wide from the edge of the area following a Ben Camilleri cross.

Lija came close again in the 16th minute when Andrè Scicluna’s piledrive was saved in two attempts by Jonathan Grech.

It was evident that a goal would come soon and on 21 minutes Daniel Scerri’s defence-splitting pass released Gilbert Camilleri who slotted the ball past the onrushing Grech.

On 37 minutes Beu was first to a Ben Camilleri low cross but his effort finished just over.

A minute later the former Hibs striker tapped the ball home from close range after a magnificent cross by Scicluna from the left flank.

Three minutes before the break Scicluna should put his name on the scoresheet when he was set free in the area by Fleri Soler but his control in front of goal was awful.

Early in the second half St Patrick started on a better note with Alex Ellul’s fierce drive saved by Joswel Caruana.

On 52 minutes Beu hit the post after he was set up by Dylan Mintoff.

St Patrick were given a lifeline in the 65th minute when from 35 metres out Riggers Ceka hit a magnificent free-kick to pull one back for the Saints.

From then onwards it was all St Patrick.

Morgan Onorah’s header brought the best out of Joswel Caruana while on 74 minutes Ellul was thwarted by another fine save by the Lija Athletic custosian.

The side from Żabbar continued to push more men forward and won several corners but by hook or by crook the Lija defence weathered the storm.

Two minutes before the end a Spas Spasov header was well saved by Caruana but a minute from time Andre Scicluna put the final nail in the Saints coffin when scoring from a long-range effort in which Grech should have done better, as he punched the ball straight into his own net.

St Patrick: J. Grech, C. Camilleri (D. Micallef), R. Ellul (M. Onorah), D. Fava, J. Farrugia, A. Galea, E. Grech (M. Micallef), S. Spasov, S. Zerafa, A. Ellul, R. Ceka

Lija: J. Caruana (L.Attard), C. Giordmaina, T. Fleri Soler, D. Scerri, E. Beu (E. Borg), G. Camilleri, B. Camilleri, B. Fenech, A. Scicluna, M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige (D. Mintoff)

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Best Player: Daniel Scerri (Lija Atletic).

Final standings