St Andrew’s 0
Pietà Hotspurs 1

A Raphael Kooh Sohna goal late in the first half was enough for Pietà Hotspurs to beat St Andrew’s and go top of the Division One standings.

The Hotspurs have now 17 points, and are level with Lija Athletic and Marsaxlokk and just one ahead of Naxxar Lions and St Andrew’s.

The Saints held the initiative early on and after ten minutes Rumen Kerekov’s run was blocked by the onrushing Miguel Montfort, the Pietà goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, Pietà responded with a Cleaven Frendo dipping shot that almost deceived Towns, but the ball flew just over the bar.

The strong gusts of wind made it difficult for both sides as scoring chances were few and far between.

On 25 minutes, Kooh Sohna went past Neil Chetcuti but his grounder from a closed angle was well saved by Towns.

Pietà had another attempt five minutes later with a Quelin Refalo free-kick going just over.

It was a good spell of pressure from Pietà and on 33 minutes a corner by Frendo created havoc in the Saints’ defence with Jonathan Zarate’s shot going wide.

On 38 minutes Trayo Grozev tested Montfort from the edge of the area and three minutes later the Pietà keeper saved his side with a desperate sortie on the unmarked Michael Grima.

It was Pietà who took the lead two minutes from the break when from a Frendo corner-kick, Kooh Sohna’s firm header hit the bar with the ball bouncing beyond the goalline.

Pietà kept the initiative on the restart with Towns denying them a second goal on two occasions.

On 55 minutes the Saints keeper blocked a shot by Larson Mallia while five minutes later he kept out a close-range effort from Kooh Sohna.

Twenty minutes from time, St Andrew’s almost equalised but sub­stitute Johnson saw his header clea­red off the line by Andrew Spiteri.

Three minutes later, the woodwork denied the Saints when Joseph Farrugia’s grounder came off the upright.

The Saints pushed everyone forward but it was Pietà who almost doubled the score when substitute Karl Cutajar tested Towns with a firm drive.

St Andrew’s kept attacking but for all their possession they only had a Brian Said header to show that sailed over.

St Andrew’s: M. Towns, N. Chetcuti, B. Said, B. Diacono, P. Briscoe White (M. Johnson), K. Mifsud Bonnici, J. Farrugia, J. Briscoe White (M. Hyzler), R. Kerekov, T. Grozev, M. Grima (N. Vella Petroni).

Pietà H.: M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, H. Madsen, C. Grech, R. Kooh Sohna, L. Mallia, J. Zarate, C. Frendo (K. Cutajar), Q. Refalo (T. Agius), J. Pisani, A. Spiteri.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Pietà Hotspurs).

Standings