Mosta 2
St George's 0

Many thought this was going to be an attractive match between two teams vying for promotion. However, Mosta and St George's failed to live up to expectations with the game only coming to life late on.

Chances were far and few in between with the two sides looking more concerned not to concede a goal rather than score one.

To sum it all up, both defences prevailed for most of the match but Mosta improved in the second half with Gilbert Martin scoring a brace to help his side join Qormi and Senglea in second place.

The Saints had new signing Glenn Barry making his first appearance for the club.

The first scoring opportunity went to Mosta on 25 minutes when Carlos Camenzuli headed just over following a Massimo Grima free-kick. Then, Mosta keeper Jonathan Debono made a superb save to stop a Barry drive.

In the 35th minute it was St George's again who moved forward with an Emerson Amaira shot neutralised by Debono.

Five minutes after the restart, Martin should have done better after pouncing on a mistake by the St George's rearguard but goalkeeper Andrea Gatt saved his team-mates' blushes.

On 65 minutes, a striker did have the better of a defender. Martin embarked on a surging run but after going past a couple of opponents saw his shot saved by Gatt.

Mosta took the lead with a Martin shot 20 minutes from time following a Grima delivery in the box.

On 75 minutes, a Silvio Sciberras free-kick was deflected by the wall with the ball rolling just wide.

Deep into stoppage time Debono saved the points for his team with a diving save on another Sciberras free-kick.

Then, Martin slotted the ball home for Mosta's second goal following a counter break.

Mosta: J. Debono, M. Abela, S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (C. Pace), R. Deguara, M. Farrugia, M. Grima (A. Borg), G. Martin, A. Saliba, E. Vella (C. Sant).

St George's: A. Gatt, C. Grech (V. Camilleri), A. Bonello, G. Tanti, K. Xuereb, J. Delia, A. Emerson (C. Caruana), S. Sciberras, G. Barry, P. Anizoba, L. Agius (M. Mifsud).

Referee: Jurgen Spiteri.

Man of the match: Gilbert Martin (Mosta).

Dingli move off bottom after 3-0 win

Marsa 0
Dingli Swallows 3

Dingli Swallows moved outside the drop zone in the standings after beating fellows-in-distress Marsa at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

Thanks to this victory, Jesmond Zammit's Dingli are now in seventh place and ahead of Mellieha, Marsa and St Patrick on the eight-point mark. Dingli paraded their new signing Mark Galea who joined from Mosta. The much-travelled striker settled in nicely and could have put his name in the scoresheet had he been more accurate in his finishing.

Dingli took five minutes to open the score when man-of-the-match Christopher Ciappara drove the ball into the Marsa net following a perfect Jeremy Agius pass.

Marsa hit back with an Ivan Borg effort on 15 minutes. However, keeper Jeffrey Farrugia was on the right spot to save.

Dingli were seeing more of the ball with Ciappara and Agius very active for their side. Five minutes before the break, Dingli doubled their lead when from a Fabio Cauchi free-kick Jason Cachia headed at the far post where Roderick Spiteri tapped in with relative ease.

Marsa could have reduced the arrears on 52 minutes but Warren Chircop was denied by the alert Farrugia in goal.

Galea then missed a sitter following some good work by Spiteri and Ciappara. Galea, who also played for Valletta, Sliema and Floriana, had another attempt cleared off the line.

In the 72nd minute Marsa suffered a setback when keeper Spiteri was red-carded for a foul on Ciappara outside his box.

It was all over now and substitute Jonathan Sapiano rounded up the score with Dingli's third goal a minute from time.

Marsa: R. Spiteri, J. Rizzo, S. Cutajar, D. Vella (B. Demicoli), C. Sacco (P. Medina), I. Borg, J.P. Zammit, J. Camilleri, J. Achokwu (A. Cassar), K. Scerri, W. Chircop.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, J. Cachia, E. Casha, V. Fiteni (B. Genovese), E. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, F. Cauchi (C. Muscat), K. Formosa, J. Agius, M. Galea, C. Ciappara (J. Sapiano).

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the match: Christopher Ciappara (Dingli).