St Andrew’s 1
Johnson 71;
Mosta 3
Micallef 17; Okonkwo 51; Farrugia 60;

Pre-match expectations were met as Mosta notched maximum spoils at the expense of bottom-placed St Andrew’s to consolidate their mid-table position in the  Premier League standings.

The Blues remain in seventh place on 24 points, two points less than Floriana and one behind Tarxien Rainbows.

This match was a one-sided affair with Mosta creating a string of goal-scoring opportunities throughout.

Their victory, however, was only rubberstamped courtesy of second-half goals from Donatus Okonkwo and Tyrone Farrugia after Manolito Micallef had broken the deadlock on 17 minutes.

It was another uphill struggle for the winless Saints as so far they only managed a meagre seven goals in 14 matches, conceding a staggering 40 in the process.

Mosta’s display in their previous victory over the other relegation-threatened team, Qormi, encouraged coach Ivan Zammit to pick the same starting XI.

Micallef, Ian Zammit and Edin Murga were granted freedom to interchange in attack with Okonkwo pulling the strings in midfield.

Jose Borg, the caretaker coach at St Andrew’s, had to do without Uzeh Edafe who was serving suspension.

Mosta stormed into attack and did not take too long to open their account.

Murga teased the Saints’ rearguard with a menacing cross that Eloy Nkene failed to deal with and Micallef was on hand to fire home from routine distance.

The goal failed to lift the tempo, however. As the clock weighed down, it seemed that Mosta were happy to go in for the break defending their slender lead.

Meantime, the Saints could only watch in frustration each time Murga drifted inside their box.

Shy of the half hour, the Bosnian’s powerful surge created panic among the Saints’ rearguard as he outsprinted the goalkeeper and squared the ball for Micallef whose shot was cleared off the line by Michael Johnson.

In the opening stages of the second half, Mosta created two scoring chances, the last of which yielded a second goal.

Hassan Yau’s shot was too central to trouble Kris Calleja but moments later, Okonkwo’s free-kick evaded the keeper’s clutches and flew into the net.

Right on the hour, Zammit served Tyrone Farrugia who made no mistake from close range, beating Calleja with a header – 3-0.

St Andrew’s pulled one back 19 minutes from time when Johnson leapt to head the ball beyond keeper Omar Borg’s reach from a free-kick.

Mosta did try their utmost to score a fourth goal but somehow Calleja and his colleagues held on to avoid a heavier defeat.

St Andrew’s
K. Calleja-5, N. Ghio-4, J. Williams-4 (66 J. Perry-4), D. Camilleri-5 (85 L. Grech), E. Nkene-4, M. Guillaumier-5.5, M. Desira Buttigieg-5, M. Grima-5, J. Farrugia-6 (90 R. Sammut), M. Johnson-6.5, J. Walker-6.

Mosta
O. Borg-6, T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-6 (84 J. Brincat), O. Guobadia-6, A. Borg-6, I. Zammit-6 (77 G. De Paola), H. Yau-6, D. Falzon-5, E. Murga-7, R. Ekani-6 (68 M. Brincat-5), D. Okonkwo-6.5.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Yellow cards: Zammit, Grima, Murga.

BOV player of the match: Edin Murga (Mosta).