San Gwann 0
Mosta 1

Mosta kept their hopes of winning promotion alive with a 1-0 victory over San Gwann at the Centenary Stadium.

Alex Chetcuti's second half goal earned the Blues three precious points that lifted them to fourth place in the table, four points adrift of leaders St Patrick.

It was a deserved win for Joe Grech's side who were clearly the better side against a defensive San Gwann side.

Mosta next face St Patrick and a win on Sunday will leave them in an ideal position for a swift return to the Premier League.

For San Gwann, yesterday's defeat put them in deep relegation trouble. They are second from bottom with Tarxien on 17 points and must pick maximum points from their remaining two matches against Marsa and Naxxar to beat the drop.

Mosta carved the better openings in the first half. After nine minutes, Pio Vassallo tried his luck from the distance but the ball finished over.

The Blues kept pushing forward and on 22 minutes Dyson Falzon's volley was well saved by Chris Cini. Six minutes later, Yves Bilocca again shot wide from a good position.

San Gwann finally started to venture forward. Igor Stefanovic heading just wide from a corner in the 38th minute.

A minute later, Mosta missed a sitter when Falzon's cross found Chetcuti in the San Gwann area but the Mosta striker failed to control the ball and the chance was lost.

The game was more balanced on the change of ends. San Gwann should have taken the lead on 49 minutes when Stefanovic squared the ball to the unmarked Achukwu who shot just over.

In the 55th minute, Mosta scored the winner when substitute Paul Zammit, who came on for the injured Falzon, found Roderick Asciak on the right and the former Rabat midfielder's cross was tapped home by Chetcuti.

Mosta could have added a second in the 61st minute. Bilocca's cross was controlled by Vassallo whose fierce drive was saved by Cini.

Seven minutes from time, San Gwann almost snatched an equaliser when Stefanovic unleashed a powerful shot that skimmed the bar.

Mosta were unlucky not to put the result beyond San Gwann's reach when Asciak's scorcher from outside the area smacked against the upright.

San Gwann: C. Cini, A. Gatt, J. Farrugia (A. Gambin), A. Saliba, D. Magri, W. Spiteri, C. Cuschieri, A. Decesare (C. Agius), C. Gatt, K. Sciberras (I. Stefanovic), J. Achukwu.

Mosta: C. Sciberras, J. Grech, P. Vassallo, R. Asciak, A. Chetcuti (M. Borg), S. Farrugia, R. Newell, I. Bilocca, C. Tabone, D. Falzon (P. Zammit), B. Galea.

Referee: Anton Zammit.