Mosta 3
Senglea Athletics 1

Mosta opened a two-point gap over Tarxien Rainbows at the top of the Division One table after dismissing the opposition of fellow promotion contenders Senglea Athletics yesterday.

Defeat for Senglea has all but knocked them out of contention for promotion.

Backed by their numerous fans, Mosta had more creativity and punch up front than Senglea but the latter may have felt unlucky that they found opposing goalkeeper Jonathan Debono in tremendous form. Another plus for Michael Molzahn's team yesterday was Massimo Grima's five-star display.

Mosta broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when the Senglea rearguard gave away possession to Congolese Ndayi Kalenga who ran forward before hitting a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Two minutes later, Mosta almost made it 2-0 but Carlos Camenzuli hesitated and ended up losing possession in the box when he should have passed to the unmarked Kalenga.

Senglea's relief at not falling two goals behind was shortlived as seven minutes from half-time, Mosta increased their lead. Grima slotted the ball into the net after goalkeeper George Attard had parried Mark Brincat's header from an Elton Vella corner.

Senglea had a good start to the second half but their hopes of getting back in contention faded away when, on 52 minutes, Mosta went 3-0 up. Kalenga dribbled past Simon Aquilina before crossing the ball into the path of the unmarked Grima who drove home from close range.

Despite this setback, Senglea did not give up and drove more men upfield while Mosta looked happy to defend their three-goal advantage.

On the hour, Senglea striker Kenneth Abela's drive from close in was well saved by Debono who, three minutes later, made another good intervention to stop Mark Tanti's first-time effort.

Eleven minutes from the end of the game, Senglea narrowed the deficit with an own goal by Mosta defender Melvin Farrugia who headed into his own net as he jumped for the ball together with Abela.

In the dying moments, Senglea were reduced to 10 men after Tanti was red-carded by referee Alan Mario Sant for kicking Mosta's Vella.

Mosta: J. Debono, M. Abela, S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (C. Sant), M. Farrugia, A. Saliba (R. Deguara), D. Theuma (N. Gatt), E. Vella, N. Kalenga, M. Grima.

Senglea: G. Attard, A. Ewurun, K. Mifsud (B. Zerafa), D. Grech, K. Abela, D. Cosaitis, C. Cuschieri, S. Aquilina, M. Tanti, D. Okonkwo, C. Caruana.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Man of the match: Massimo Grima (Mosta).

Qormi 1
Marsa 1

Kevin Cassar was on target seven minutes from time to rescue a point for relegation-threatened Marsa who held promotion hopefuls Qormi to a 1-1 draw at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

Marsa's late equaliser took them a point above fellows-in-distress St Patrick and Mellieha whereas Qormi missed a chance to strengthen their position in the top part of the table.

Three minutes into the game, Qormi striker Michael Borg Olivier muscled his way past defender Darren Vella but his drive finished just over the crossbar.

Four minutes later, a long-range shot by Joseph Farrugia was neutralised by goalkeeper Roderick Spiteri. The Marsa goalkeeper was prominent again a few minutes later with a fine save to tip Joseph Chetcuti's drive away for a corner.

Marsa responded in the 12th minute when Warren Chircop's quickly-taken free-kick almost deceived Qormi custodian Matthew Farrugia who effected a last-ditch dive to push the ball away for a corner.

Qormi threatened again on 24 minutes, Clyde Camoin's cross-shot coming off the crossbar. Five minutes later, Qormi opened the scoring when Borg Olivier fired the ball home from close range after receiving a Kurt Zammit cross.

Jesmond Zerafa's team continued to dominate possession without creating any real problems for the solid Marsa rearguard. After the change of ends, Marsa began to show the better ideas as Qormi surrendered the initiative.

Marsa should have made it 1-1 on 70 minutes but a first-time effort by Joseph Achokwu rattled the crossbar. At the other end, successive attempts by Joseph Farrugia and Joseph Chetcuti finished just wide.

Jimmy Briffa's side got back on level terms on 83 minutes when Cassar headed home from a Kevin Xerri corner after Qormi goalkeeper Farrugia had failed to clear.

Marsa's Chircop was booked by referee Esther Azzopardi for remarks he passed to the Qormi fans as he celebrated his team's equaliser.

Qormi staged a reaction in search of a winning goal. Farrugia's drive from a good position was partially saved by Spiteri and the Marsa defence cleared the danger.

A minute before the end, Marsa were reduced to ten men after Chircop was shown his second yellow card for diving in the Qormi box.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, M. Caruana, J. Francica, M. Borg, P. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, K. Zammit, C. Camoin, J. Chetcuti, C. Formosa (A. Debono,), M. Borg Olivier (L. Grima).

Marsa: R. Spiteri, S. Cutajar, D. Vella, J. Borg, I. Borg (J. Martin), J.P. Zammit, K. Cassar, J. Camilleri, J. Achokwu, K. Xerri, W. Chircop.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Roderick Spiteri (Marsa).