Vittoriosa Stars 1
Mosta 1
Vittoriosa and Mosta are eyeing promotion at the end of the season but judging on this performance both sides need to up their game to achieve their ambitious goal.
Michael Molzahn's Mosta were the better team, perhaps, but they were still found wanting in team spirit and ideas in front of goal.
On Friday, Mosta received the news that club president Charlie Abela had resigned due to work pressures. On the field, however, they should have atoned for that upset and got back into the reckoning. Elton Vella was in fine form for the Blues but there was little help from his team-mates.
Quite surprisingly, Vittoriosa had Anthony Eviparker on the bench. He was introduced as a substitute and scored a penalty to earn his team a point.
This outcome was obviously greeted with delight by the likes of leaders St Patrick and Pietà Hotspurs, the other promotion contenders, who look well equipped to make the final push for a place in the top flight next season.
The first half was somewhat scrappy with both sides playing below par and chances were few.
It was former Naxxar striker Gilbert Camilleri who should have given Mosta the lead but he drove the ball wide from in front of goal.
On 19 minutes, a Vella free-kick was saved by Jurgen Micallef. But it was the Stars who created the best chance of the first half when a Kenneth Abela header, from a Larry Lagana centre, finished just wide.
Mosta saw more of the ball after the break but were never really threatening with second-placed Vittoriosa looking happy with the way things were developing.
Camilleri failed to finish off some good Vella work but Mosta did manage to take the lead on 54 minutes when Carlos Camenzuli outsmarted keeper Micallef with a cute lob following an inch-perfect Vella pass.
Mosta almost made the game safe on 62 minutes but Gianluca Calabretta was unlucky to see his shot hitting the upright. Camenzuli was also through on one other occasion but he was foiled by quick-thinking defender Silvan Privitelli.
Mosta were stunned, however, when Eviparker went down inside their box after a Steve Borg challenge. From the penalty, Eviparker made it one-all.
Abela had a glorious chance to steal the points for Vittoriosa late on but blasted out of range from a good position. That, however, would have been harsh justice on Mosta, now rapidly losing contact with the front-runners.
Vittoriosa Stars
J. Micallef, K. Abela, D. Grech, L. Lagana, J. Spiteri, J. Camilleri (D. Gauci), P. Aquilina, N. Chukunyere, C. Cachia, S. Privitelli (H. Hughes), K. Darmanin (A. Eviparker).
Mosta
J. Debono, M. Abela, S. Borg, M. Brincat, G. Calabretta (R. Deguara), C. Camenzuli (E. Micallef), G. Camilleri, M. Farrugia, J. Portelli (P. Vassallo), E. Vella, A. Saliba.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Man of the match: Elton Vella (Mosta).