Tarxien Rainbows 2
Evaldo 31; Reinaldo 61;
Melita 0

After a slow start to the campaign, Tarxien Rainbows are beginning to find their feet as they upstaged Melita to stretch their unbeaten streak to three games.

After back-to-back defeats against Valletta and Sliema, the change of guards between Danilo Doncic and Clive Mizzi left dividends as the Rainbows are still unbeaten under the helm of the ex-Sliema mentor.

This victory moves the Rainbows up to sixth in the standings while Melita remained rock-bottom.

Tarxien had gone into the game looking for a second successive victory, having won 2-1 against Balzan last time out and they chalked up a win without sweating.

Mark Tanti was preferred to Karl Pulo in the only change in the Tarxien formation from the last-gasp victory over Balzan.

Already handicapped by the absence of defender Jovan Vukanic, Martin Gregory’s options were diluted by the unavailability of Julian Galea. On a positive note, George Gribbon provided a timely fitness boost for the Amateurs.

The game was 16 minutes old when the Rainbows threatened to forge ahead. Roderick Bajada slipped the ball to Daniel Mariano Bueno who managed to evade his marker but his drive sailed over.

The Rainbows kept pushing. On the half hour mark, Tanti exchanged quick passes with David Fenech before his cross-cum-shot was cleared by Matthew Borg.

From the ensuing corner, taken by Fenech, Evaldo headed in after Matthew Sapiano had misjudged the cross.

Melita tried to regroup after this setback and just before half-time they generated some momentum when Josè Luis Armaro Negrin embarked on a solo run only for his shot to finish high and wide.

Gregory’s thoughts on Melita’s first-half performance was reflected in his bold decision to make a double substitution at half-time when he replaced Alhinho and Andrew Caruana Scicluna with Maxime Batel and Karl Vella Petroni.

Following these changes, things did get better for the boys in red and on 51 minutes, Manuel Sierra Camacho received a short free-kick from Kane Micallef but blasted over.

More opportunities followed for Melita when Vella Petroni met Luke Sammut’s cross with a looping header which forced Cassar to push the ball onto the post.

But that was as good as it got for the Amateurs, who gave the ball away soon after to gift their opponents their second goal.

On the hour mark, a misplaced pass allowed the Rainbows to break forward as Danilo picked up the ball from Orosco Anonam and fed Andre Reinaldo who beat the onrushing Sapiano.

Melita’s misery was further compounded minutes later when Sierra Camacho picked up a second booking for simulation.

Tarxien could have made it 3-0 late on but Sapiano did well to keep out Danilo’s close-range shot .

Tarxien
D. Cassar-6, C. Mamo-6, Evaldo-7, J. Grioli-6, R. Bajada-6.5, Danilo-6, A. Reinaldo-75 (87 S. Bonnici), M. Tanti-6 (61 K. Pulo-4), D.M. Bueno-5 D. Fenech-7 (84 A. Agius), O. Anonam-7.

Melita
M. Sapiano-5, I. Tufegdzic-4.5, M. Borg-6, L. Sammut-6 (75 M. Michael), M.R. Sierra Camacho, L. Micallef-5, A. Caruana Scicluna-5 (46 M. Batel-5), K. Micallef-5, J.L. Negrin-5.5, R. Alhinho-5 (46 K. Vella Petroni-6), G. Gribbon-5.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Evaldo, Sierra Camacho. Red card: Sierra Camacho (M) 66.

BOV player of the match: Andrè Reinaldo (Tarxien Rainbows).