MOSTA 1
Oliveira 13
ST ANDREWS 3
Atkinson 6 pen, 57, 74
Kevaugh Atkinson scored a fine hat-trick as St Andrew's breezed past Mosta to a 3-1 victory at the Tedesco Stadium.
Only five minutes had elapsed when Atkinson's shot was deflected to a corner by Tyrone Farrugia. From the resultant corner, Romeo Romao handled the ball inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Atkinson stepped up to fire the ball into the net.
Mosta took just eight minutes to restore equilibrium.
From a cross by Massimo Sammartino, Renan Oliveira’s fine rising shot gave goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona no chance.
On 29 minutes, Amoy Brown was unlucky to hit the woodwork for St Andrews with goalkeeper Andreas Vella beaten.
St Andrews regained the lead on 57 minutes.
Brown sent Atkinson through on the right flank and the latter advanced into the area before slotting past the Mosta custodian.
The Saints continued to hold the initiative and on 74 minutes, Butler released Atkinson on the right and the latter beat Vella with a fine angled shot.
Mosta were reduced to ten men one minute from time as Adrian Borg received a second yellow card for a late tackle.