Qormi moved into fourth place in the Premier League with a scrappy win over a 10-man Tarxien side.

The two goalkeepers were hardly tested in a dull first half and it was Qormi who mustered the first notable move of the game shy the half hour mark when Effiong raced into the box but pressed by Alessandro Lopes Pereira, he rolled the ball to the advancing Anderson Quatrochi Santos whose low drive produced a smart save from Sean Cini, the Tarxien goalkeeper.

At the start of the second half, the ineffective Xerri made way for Luke Zahra as Mizzi tried to add some pace in defence. But his plans went out of the window just few moments later when goalkeeper Cini was shown a straight red card by referee Trustan Farrugia Cann for bringing down Temile.

From the penalty spot, Effiong beat reserve goalkeeper Antonio Chetcuti, brought on at the expense of Farrugia.

Despite their territorial supremacy, Qormi were finding it harder than expected to kill off a limited but lively Tarxien who, to their credit, tried to attack whenever they had possession.

Past the hour, Effiong latching onto a pass from Chetcuti squared for Temile but the former Birkirkara player could not get a decent touch on the ball to trouble the 18-year-old goalkeeper Chetcuti.

Three minutes from time, Anderson incursion on the left evaded the Tarxien defence, the ball was swept towards Temile who shot wide from routine distance.