Dingli Swallows 2
Qormi 0
Dingli Swallows moved further away from the relegation zone yesterday with a stunning victory over promotion seekers Qormi at the Hibs Ground. Qormi, without a win in their last four games, are now five points adrift of leaders Senglea.
Dingli looked better in a drab first half with Qormi unable to impose their superiority, rarely testing the opponents' keeper. The match was played mainly in midfield and, surprisingly, Dingli gained the upperhand with Formosa, Spiteri and Muscat covering acres of ground.
Both teams were without their foreigners, with Qormi also missing the services of Camoin. Coach Jesmond Zerafa paraded Qormi's new signing, Mario Caruana (ex-Floriana).
After only six minutes, Dingli created their first opening when Jeremy Agius rose high to meet a Farrugia cross, but his header missed the target.
On 22 minutes Dingli had another good chance when Mark Galea nodded down towards Chris Ciappara whose drive was saved by Matthew Farrugia. Then, an Agius effort, from a Formosa corner, was again stopped by Farrugia.
On resumption, Qormi had their first attempt with an effort from Joe Chetcuti. However, Dingli forged ahead on 51 minutes when Agius slotted the ball home from an acute angle.
Dingli could have added a second on 56 minutes when Ciappara sped through but blasted wide from a good position.
Ciappara headed just wide on 78 minutes and a minute later the same Dingli player drove the ball just wide from close range.
Dingli made sure of the points two minutes from time when Sapiano outran Caruana before chipping the ball over Farrugia and into the net.
Dingli: J. Farrugia, E. Casha, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, M. Galea (C. Tabone), K. Formosa, V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius (J. Sapiano), E. Farrugia.
Qormi: M. Farrugia, M. Borg, J. Saliba, D. Zuccaro, A. Galea (B. Fenech), P. Camilleri (K. Zammit), M. Caruana, J. Chetcuti (B. Dalli), J. Farrugia, L. Grima, C. Formosa.
Referee: Gordon Barbara.
Man of the match: Jeremy Agius (Dingli).
St Patrick 1
Tarxien 1
The second game at the Hibs Ground produced another surprise result when lowly St Patrick held Tarxien Rainbows, another side with promotion hopes, to a draw.
The result saw the Saints move ahead of fellow strugglers Mellieha on goal difference and prevent Tarxien from going top.
Leaders Senglea profited mostly from the one-all draw, a fair outcome as no team dominated the proceedings. St Patrick, perhaps, were the better side in the first 45 minutes but Tarxien recovered well after the break following the introduction of Omar Grech.
The Saints started well and after 14 minutes a Haruna Doda free-kick was kept out by keeper Anthony Curmi. A minute later it was Doda, again, whose drive finished over the bar.
Tarxien responded on 20 minutes when a Ryan Grech free-kick finished off target.
But three minutes later Winston Muscat's St Patrick took the lead when Chris Grech headed home a Sean Magro cross.
Tarxien went close to an equaliser on 28 minutes. Angus Buhagiar headed wide from close range following a Jean Paul Muscat delivery. Tarxien laid siege on the St Patrick fort but the latter held tight.
On 53 minutes, the Saints were dangerous when, from a Thomas Caruana free-kick, a Grech header flew over.
But, Tarxien equalised soon after and what a good move it was, involving four players and concluded by Omar Grech's grounder that gave keeper David Cassar no chance.
St Patrick almost regained the lead 13 minutes from time when Doda found a way through before releasing Matthew Scerri whose effort from the small box went wide.
On 84 minutes Curmi made a superb save from a Caruana free-kick as both teams went all out for a winner. In the end, however, the stalemate prevailed.
St Patrick: D. Cassar, M. Fleri Soler, C. Grech (K. Micallef), M. Pullicino, S. Magro (S. Dimech), M. Xerri, T. Caruana, C. Micallef, H. Doda, B. Bonnici, E. Borg.
Tarxien: A. Curmi, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg (O. Grech), E. Mbong, S. Shead (A. Mangion), A. Buhagiar (M. Borg), J.P. Muscat, R. Schembri, R. Grech, L. Vella Critien.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Man of the match: Omar Grech (Tarxien Rainbows).