St Andrew’s 2
Melita 1

St Andrew’s overcame derby rivals Melita at the Luxol Stadium yesterday to keep the pace with Division One leaders Pembroke Athleta.

The match was devoid of scoring opportunities in the first half but sprang to life after the interval with the Saints taking all three points that lifted them to second place, one point behind neighbours Pembroke Athleta who had the better of St George’s 1-0 yesterday.

St Andrew’s were first to threaten on 19 minutes as, from a quick break, Kyrian Nwoko’s effort just missed the target.

Melita’s response came on 32 minutes when Kane Micallef’s free-kick finished just wide.

Two minutes before the half-time interval, Melita goalkeeper Philip Schranz came to his side’s rescue, keeping the ball out after Portu-guese defender Rudy Alinho had inadvertently deflected it towards his own goal.

On the restart, St Andrew’s took control of proceedings, grabbing the lead on 58 minutes.

Malta Under-17 midfielder Mat-thew Guillaumier served Emiliano Lattes who evaded his marker before hitting a low drive that rolled past Schranz.

Melita hit back to draw level on 67 minutes.

Julian Galea scored a fine goal when his half-volley from the edge of the area flew into the top corner of the net.

But six minutes later St Andrew’s scored what proved to be the winner when substitute Trayo Grozev, who had replaced Nwoko, served Matteo Desira Buttigieg who was on hand to head home.

Melita threw everyone forward but it was St Andrew’s who came close to scoring a third but were again denied by goalkeeper Schranz following a solo effort by Lattes.

The Argentine was again thwarted in time added on when his attempt was cleared off the line by Melita’s Luke Bianco.

St Andrew’s: J. Galea, N. Vella Petroni (J. Walker), L. Grech, B. Said, M. Johnson, D. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, M. Guillaumier, M. Desira Buttigieg (N. Bradshaw), K. Nwoko (T. Grozev), E. Lattes.

Melita: P. Schranz, R. Alinho, G. Gribbon, N. Micallef, L. Bianco, J.P. Attard, E. Cornago (K. Coleiro), F. Mennini Righini, K. Micallef (G. Schranz), J. Galea, A. Borg Olivier (T. Terpougoff).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Emiliano Lattes (St Andrew’s).

Summaries

Pembroke Athleta 1
St George’s 0

Pembroke Athleta: M. Calleja Cremona, C. Mamo, O. Sidibe, A. Azzopardi, S. Chircop, A. Agius, D. Sammut, L. Omeruo (M. Thorne), S. Arab (D. Toure), L. Micallef (G. Spiteri), R. Bajada.

St George’s: C. Carbonaro, B. Muscat (I. Wisdom), R. Vella, D. Camilleri (Liam Mallia), R. Tanti, O. Olawale, M. Tanti, A. Bonello, I. Francis, D. Zerafa (E. Amaira), Larson Mallia.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Scorer: Zerafa 13 og.

Man of the match: Ayrton Azzopardi (Pembroke).

Vittoriosa Stars 1
Fgura United 2

Vittoriosa Stars: J. Mercieca, C. Spiteri, M. Barbara, F. Arriagada Mella, C. Compagnoli, L. Gauci (C. Ioffrida), R. Degiorgio, S. Grech (R. Mifsud), M. Buttigieg, G. Sultana, L. Vella Critien.

Fgura United: R. Marmara, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J. Ruiz Perez, J. Bugeja, I. Curmi, D. Attard (J. Farrugia), A. Farrugia, P. Chircop, J. Dalli (A. Williams), R. Emeka (A. Galea).

Scorers: Emeka (F) 13, 78; Degiorgio (V) 90.

Referee: Andrè Arciola.

Man of the match: Ronald Emeka (Fgura United).

Msida St. Joseph 4
Żurrieq 1

Msida St Joseph: M. Camilleri, L. Cassar, U. Anyanwu (G. Murakami), D. Attard, S. Vella, D. Cachia, G. Vella (L. Micallef), Z. Vukovic, I. Chircop, R. Forace (K. Borg), R. Faria.

Żurrieq: J. Alden, M. Attard, K. Magro, K. Sacco (S. Azzopardi), R. Bakare, M. Mifsud, G. Ghigo, D. Darmanin, A. Agius (M. Schembri), J. Ogunnupe, O. Agboebina (D. Zammit).

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Scorers: Faria (M) 41 pen; Ogun-nuppe (Ż) 50; Forace (M) 52; Anyanwu (M) 60; Murakami (M) 82 pen.

Man of the match: Ricardo Faria (Msida St Joseph).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Pembroke	13	8	2	3	25	12	26
St Andrew’s	13	8	1	4	26	20	25
Gudja Utd	12	6	4	2	25	12	22
Vittoriosa	13	6	4	3	23	15	22
St George’s	13	6	2	5	21	18	20
Melita	13	6	2	5	16	16	20
Gżira Utd	12	6	1	5	18	17	19
Fgura Utd	13	4	7	2	14	13	19
Lija Athletic	12	6	0	6	20	19	18
Rabat Ajax	12	5	2	5	13	16	17
Mqabba	12	4	2	6	20	20	14
Msida SJ	13	4	1	8	13	25	13
Żurrieq	13	3	1	9	13	27	10
Birżebbuġa	12	0	3	9	14	31	3