Naxxar Lions 0
St Andrew’s 1
Wisdom 13

Naxxar striker Xhoeijan Cekaj is challenged by St Andrew’s Dale Camilleri. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Without a point in 19 games, St Andrew’s looked down and out but their strong recruitment drive in the January transfer window has revived their hopes of pulling off a great escape.

Having opened their account in a 2-2 draw with Hibs, the Saints finally secured their first victory this season after Salomon Wisdom’s early strike handed them a 1-0 win over fellows-in-distress Naxxar Lions.

Once again, St Andrew’s newly-signed foreigners were instrumental.

Wisdom scored the winner, Spanish duo Jonatan Perez Cuestra and Manuel Beltre posed a constant threat to the Naxxar defence and, when the Lions piled up the pressure in search of an equaliser, Won Bong Che, Frances Onwudinjo and Eloy Nkene made some vital interceptions to preserve their lead.

St Andrew’s had Wisdom spearheading their forward line with Matteo Desira Buttigieg and Beltre on the wings.

Clive Mizzi deployed his team in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Demba Toure flanked by Xhoeijan Cekaj in attack. Captain Angus Buhagiar was suspended.

The game took a while to get going but the Saints put their noses in front after 12 minutes.

Beltre initiated the move as the Spaniard darted past Jose Godar on the right before switching to Desira Buttigieg inside the box. The latter laid the ball to Wisdom whose low shot rolled past Julian Azzopardi, the Naxxar goalkeeper.

Naxxar were incensed as they claimed that Beltre had hit Godar in the face as he cut in from the right but the officials saw nothing wrong.

The Lions might have gained an instant equaliser as Eduardo Vallecillo made headway in the box but his grounder was blocked by the alert Onwudinjo.

A goal behind, Naxxar upped the tempo. Midfielder Ryan Grech picked out Godar inside the box but his angled shot was off target.

The exchanges grew increasingly scrappy as the first half wore on.

On the stroke of half-time, Michael Johnson appeared to touch the ball with his shoulder before clearing, sparking penalty protests from Naxxar but Esther Azzopardi was unmoved.

From the ensuing counter-attack, Joseph Farrugia released Jonatan Perez Cuestra on the left and the Spanish playmaker cut inside Andrew Scicluna before hitting a swerving shot that Azzopardi palmed on to the upright.

Jake Galea, the St Andrew’s goalkeeper, parried away a dangerous Godar free-kick on the restart.

As was to be expected, the Lions did most of the running. Toure had a low free-kick saved by Galea before Jurgen Debono came on for the subdued Cekaj.

At the other end, Beltre’s surging run took him into the box but his effort was deflected to a corner.

Midway into the second half, Scicluna headed over from Godar’s cross and Toure’s close-range effort was blocked by Galea.

The pressure from the Lions increased. Duane Bonnici’s corner was deflected on towards Toure but the Senegalese’s header was stopped by Galea.

A dangerous cross-shot from Bonnici caused anxiety in the Saints’ ranks but the ball landed on the bar.

The Saints should have sealed the points when Oseghale’s pass freed Wisdom but the latter’s half-volley brought a fine save from Azzopardi.

To make matters worse for the Lions, Grech was expelled for a reckless challenge on Nkene.

Naxxar Lions: J. Azzopardi-6.5, A. Scicluna-6.5, R. Grech, E. Vallecillo-5.5, D. Toure-5, J. Godar-5, I. Grech-6, D. Fenech-6 (70 D. Bonnici-6), E. Hamutenya-5.5, N. Tasic-6 (82 D. Falzon), X. Cekaj-4 (59 J. Debono-5).

St Andrew’s: J. Galea-6.5, M. Pena Beltre-7, D. Camilleri-6, W.B. Che-6.5, J. Perez Cuestra-7.5 (84 L. Grech), M. Desira Buttigieg-6 (66 L. Oseghale-6.5), S. Wisdom-6.5, J. Farrugia-6, F. Onwudinjo-6.5, M. Johnson-6, E. Nkene-6.5.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Vallecillo; Cekaj; Cuestra; Scicluna.

Red card: Grech (N) 90.

BOV player of the match: Jonathan Perez Cuestra (St Andrew’s).