Rabat Ajax 0
Melita 2

Melita bounced back from last week’s defeat to Gżira United when they had the better of lowly Rabat Ajax to stay in the hunt for a promotion place.

Rabat had dominated much of the first half but the match changed dramatically just before the interval when Melita were awarded a penalty and the Magpies had a player sent off.

From then on the Amateurs remained in command as they bagged a priceless victory that lifted them to third place alongside Gżira and Fgura on the 35-point mark.

On the other hand, Rabat remained third from bottom on 22 points after picking up just five points from their last seven matches.

Rabat played the better football early on with Adam Smeir firing just over after six minutes and three minutes later Sacha Cortis’s cross-shot sailed just over.

The Magpies continued to dictate matters and on 12 minute Chiedozie broke free but the Nigerian fired wide from a few metres out.

However, it was Melita who struck two minutes from the break when Dylan Falzon floored Jean Pierre Attard inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot and dismissed Falzon.

Michael Valenzia converted the resultant penalty to put the Amateurs ahead.

Melita upped their game after the break and Julian Galea was denied by the onrushing Jamie Azzopardi.

On 63 minutes Alan Borg Olivier failed to make contact inside the area from an Attard cross.

Melita put the game to bed on 82 minutes when Galea latched onto Valenzia’s pass to beat Azzopardi with a low drive.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, L. Cauchi, B. Micallef, A. Smeir, L. Chiedozie, D. Falzon, A. Azzopardi (D. Galea), E. Scicluna, D. Azzopardi (S. Abela), S. Cortis (Z. Tanti).

Melita: P. Schranz, R. Alinho, E. Cornago, N. Micallef, L. Bianco, F. Mennini Reghini (G. Schranz), M. Valenzia, J.P. Attard (M. Fenech), J. Galea, A. Borg Olivier, K. Coleiro (L. Mifsud).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Jean Pierre Attard (Melita).