PIETÀ HOTSPURS             3

Chimezie 53

Agius 57

Scicluna 90

ST ANDREWS        1

Martin 87

Pietà Hotspurs remained in the race to avoid relegation when they saw off St Andrews at the National Stadium on Sunday. 

It was a deserved victory for the Hotspurs who are now on the 13-point mark five adrift of the same Saints who are third from bottom. With only three matches to go, Pietà face a tall order to stay in the top flight but at least they still gave themselves a lifeline.

Pietà were the better side for much of the first half and threatened after five minutes. Jan Busuttil bamboozled his marker but his effort was deflected just wide.

At the other end, Martin Davis threatened for St Andrews but his shot was too central to trouble Nicky Vella, in the Pietà goal.

The Hotspurs kept pushing forward and on 21 minutes a Neil Pace Cocks inswinger was not held by Matthew Calleja Cremona, but Tony failed to turn the ball into the net from routine distance.

Pietà’s best chance came on 28 minutes when Takaki Ose fed Paul Chimezie whose saw seemed destined to hit the net but Travis Blagrove came to his team’s rescue to clear off the line.

Seven minutes from the break, Calleja Cremona again came to St Andrews rescue when he did well to push away Gabriel Mensah’s firm drive.

Pietà took the lead on 53 minutes. Dylan Agius sent a precise throughball towards Chimezie and the Nigerian, despite being at a close angle, directed the ball past Calleja Cremona and into the net.

Five minutes later, Agius again took centre stage and this time he let fly a ferocious low drive that gave no chance to Calleja Cremona.

St Andrews tried to respond with Jacob Walker denied by a fine diving save from Vella.

Just past the hour, Calleja Cremona again had to dive full stretch to push away Pace Cocks’ long range shot.

Twenty minutes from time, Mensah should have put the game to bed but with only Calleja Cremona to beat he shot straight into the the Saints goalkeeper.

The Saints had the ball in the Hotspurs net on 75minutes when Walker played in susbtitute Aidan Friggieri who slid the ball past Vella. The ‘goal’ was however annulled for offside.

Seven minutes from time, Joseph Farrugia tried a curling drive from the edge of the area but Vella was alert to block.

Three minutes from time, Ricardo Martin tapped the ball home from close in after an Adrian Borg delivery to set up a tense finale.

Still, it was Pietà who had the final say when substitute James Scicluna raced through, rounded Calleja Cremona to tap home for a fine win for the Hotspurs.

Pieta's Dylan Agius was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.