TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1; ST ANDREW'S 0

Ayrton Azzopardi scored with a well-taken free-kick to give Tarxien Rainbows a narrow win over St Andrew's who remain without a point after nine Premier League games.

Tarxien, who were coming from a 2-1 victory over Pembroke, held the initiative for long stretches but were denied on several occasions by St Andrew's goalkeeper Kris Calleja who was deservedly named BOV player of the match.

Tarxien Rainbows dominated the first half but failed to translate their supremacy into goal. Ayrton Azzopardi fired high after 20 minutes before Luke Montebello, the Tarxien Rainbows striker, had an effort saved by St Andrew's goalkeeper Kris Calleja who distinguished himself with a series of fine saves in the opening period.
St Andrew's had a great opportunity to take the lead but Michael Johnson headed wide from Joseph Farrugia's corner.

Calleja pushed zaway Pedro's inswinger from a corner with eight minutes of the first half remaining. There was an even better chance for Montebello who lifted his shot from point blank after receiving from Alves.

Just before half-time, Calleja again denied Tarxien when blocking Montebello's point-blank effort after Ebiabowei Baker headed Pedro's cross into the on-loan Valletta striker's path.

Tarxien opened the scoring on 64 minutes thanks to Azzopardi whose curling free-kick had the better of Calleja. There was a scare for Tarxien when Jordan Williams's set-piece cross soared towards the six-yard box but the defenders cleared.
A swift one-two between Azzopardi and Alves sent the latter clear but his angled drive was touched away by Calleja.

In stoppage time, Tarxien were unlucky not to make it 3-0 as Lucky Omeruo's strong drive, after the Nigerian was set up by Danilo, came off the underside of the post and glanced off Calleja.