Malcolm Licari saved Marsaxlokk’s blushes when he came off the bench to fire home a vital winner to steer the southerners to a 1-0 win over Dingli Swallows this afternoon.

The result was certainly a hard blow for the Swallows who had put up a stern challenge against more-quoted opponents but in the end they were made to pay for a rare defensive blip from which came the winning goal that decided the match.

The Swallows had created the better chances for most of the match. However, at 73 minutes it was Marsaxlokk that struck the winner when Dingli defender Shaun Tellus tried to clear the ball away, but the ball came off Dylan Kokavessis and into the path of Licari whose firm drive flew into the top corner of the net.