St Andrew’s 0
Melita 0

The derby between St Andrew’s and Melita was a huge disappointment to the sizeable crowd at Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

It was not only a game that produced no goals but also an encounter that had nothing to show even though both sides boast of some influential players in their ranks.

In the end, the result was a fair outcome as no team looked particularly interested in risking to win all points at stake.

This draw may have satisfied the Saints most as they are not enjoying a particularly good start to the season while Melita, who missed promotion by a whisker last season, looked to have improved lately, but surely not against their neighbours.

Melita saw more of the ball but St Andrews never yielded an inch.

Midway through the first half Aldinho Goncalves beat a couple of Melita defenders before unleashing a shot that hit the foot of the upright.

Minutes earlier Neil Chetcuti also came close for St Andrew’s with his drive from a very difficult angle just missing the target.

Melita tried to move more forward after the break.

Luke Sammut saw his drive just missing the target and then an Emilio Carnago San Pedro effort was cleared off the line by Ben Diacono. Minutes later a George Gribbon header was well saved by Saints keeper David Balzan.

Luke Micallef did well to find space but his shot finished just over the crossbar as the Saints responded with a firm Aldinho Goncalves header that never troubled keeper Sapiano.

Micallef had another good chance to break the stalemate for Melita but overhit his lob from a good position.

Carnago San Pedro had his grounder saved by Balzan but in the last minutes both sides looked happy to settle for the point.

St Andrew’s: D. Balzan, B. Diacono, N. Chetcuti, B. Said, J. Bugeja, J. Briscoe White (F. Alkanua), A. Nakuaa, W. Camilleri (R. Previ), V. Aldinho Goncalves, M. Grima (M. Calleja), N. Vella Petroni.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Vukanic, M. Sierra Camacho, G. Gribbon, K. Micallef, N. Baldacchino (M. Martin), J. Galea, E. Carnago San Pedro, L. Micallef, L. Sammut, K. Vella Petroni.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Man of the match: Emilio Carnago San Pedro (Melita).

Dingli Swallows 0
St George’s 2

This was a crucial win for St George’s over fellow strugglers Dingli to distance themselves from the bottom places after a rather shaky take-off to the campaign.

Eric Chukwunyelu was the Saints’ hero as he scored the goals that mattered even though he missed a couple of other sitters before his opener.

Dingli fought gallantly, going close first through Mauro Brincat, whose drive from an acute angle finished just wide, and a Leontiv Konda free-kick.

Borislav Giorev’s side almost went in front on 18 minutes when Konda sprinted through following an inviting Brincat pass, but his shot was saved by keeper Ryan Marmara.

At the other end, Chukwunyelu fluffed his chance from close range and on the stroke of half-time Dingli had Steve Meilak beating the offside trap but dallied his conclusion and a scoring opportunity was lost.

The rhythm did not change much after the break but Chukwunyelu was again found wanting in attack when from less than a metre out he blasted his shot against the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Jonathan Ruiz then came face-to-face with Mark Abela, after a measured Dylan Zarb pass, but the Dingli keeper parried the effort. The loose ball ran to Chukwunyelu who made the impossible and hit badly from a good position.

However, on 62 minutes Chukwunyelu made up for his missed chances as he turned past a couple of defenders to shoot home and put the Saints in front.

Dingli were unlucky not to equalise when from a good move started by Rigers Ceka, captain Etienne Farrugia saw his effort cleared off the line by his Saints’ counterpart Emanuel Sevasta.

Dingli paid dearly for that miss as ten minutes from time Chukwunyelu picked up a long ball before beating the onrushing Abela with a cute chip.

Dingli: M. Abela, F. Owusu, K. Pace, A. Portelli (M. Pace), L. Konda, M. Brincat (J. Sapiano), K. Formosa, R. Ceka (D. Cilia), E. Farrugia, S. Meilak, R. Briffa.

St George’s: R. Marmara, C. Grech, M.A. Bonnici, E. Sevasta, K. Magro (A. Bonello, A. Abela), G. Inguanez, G. Bonello (R. Boutahir), E. Amaira, D. Zarb, E. Chukwunyelu, J. Ruiz.

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.

Man of the match: Eric Chukwunyelu (St George’s).