Rabat Ajax 0
Pietà Hotspurs 1
Pietà Hotspurs have made another significant step towards Premier League football after beating Rabat Ajax 1-0.
Thanks to this win, Clive Mizzi's team have moved five points clear of Vittoriosa Stars and St Patrick who are joint-second.
The opening half of yesterday's match, the only Division One fixture last weekend, was dull. The first notable scoring opportunity came Pietà's way when Jean Landry Poulangoye hit a 30-metre scorcher which sailed over the bar.
Rabat responded on 20 minutes when Vilson Caushi crossed for Lydon Micallef who headed just wide.
After a rather long period of disjointed football, Rabat went close four minutes from half-time. Jonathan Bezzina produced a dangerous cross towards Michael Micallef who looked almost certain to tap the ball home but Pietà's Quelin Refalo ran back to clear the ball away for a corner.
Just when it seemed that the first half would finish goalless, the Hotspurs forged ahead on the stroke of half-time with a superb goal.
Martin Deanov exchanged passes with Terrence Vella and with the Rabat defence static, the latter fired the ball into the roof of the net from outside the area.
Pietà started the second half in buoyant mood. Carl Pulo's free-kick was saved by James Borg and, then, a good one-two between Refalo and Simon Shead finished with the latter shooting just over.
The Hotspurs continued to dominate and on 53 minutes, a Pulo cross-shot was blocked by Josef Tonna. A minute later, Pulo was again unlucky when his shot was deviated for a corner.
Having withstood Pietà's pressure, Rabat began to show their mettle. On 63 minutes, the Magpies were unlucky not to equalise when Adam Smeir's header, from a Caushi service, hit a post. Five minutes later, Caushi hit a dangerous free-kick but Silvan Ciscaldi headed clear.
Rabat were now in total control and 20 minutes from time, Glenn Magri headed wide from close range after another Caushi free-kick.
Six minutes from time, Pulo's effort came off the woodwork following a fine pass from Refalo.
In the dying minutes, Pietà goalkeeper Ivan Cassar produced a good save from Smeir's free-kick to secure his side a precious victory.
Rabat Ajax
J. Borg, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, V. Caushi, A. Smeir, M. Micallef (D. Azzopardi), G. Magri, E. Muscat, L. Micallef (D. Galea) E. Azzopardi.
Pietà Hotspurs
I. Cassar, B. Sciberras, G. Busuttil, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi (J. Delia), Q. Refalo, C. Pulo, S. Shead (D. Mifsud), J.L. Poulangoye, T. Vella (C. Sammut), S. Pace.
Referee: Paul Apap.
Man of the match: Carl Pulo (Pietà).