MOSTA 2; PEMBROKE 0;

Mosta needed two second half goals to see off 10-men Pembroke 2-0 at the Ta' Qali National Stadium.

Pembroke paraded new signing Patmore Shereni in their starting formation but the Zimbabwe defender’s debut lasted less than two minutes when in his first tackle he upended Fidelis inside the area with referee Malcolm Spiteri pointing to the spot and dismissing the Pembroke defender. But from the spot, Fidelis drilled his shot wide.

Mosta threatened again two minutes later when Manolito Micallef’s cross-shot landed on the crossbar before Pembroke cleared. After 17 minutes, Pembroke came close when Zoran Levnaic connected to Paltemio Barbetti corner-kick but his header just missed the upright.

On 33 minutes, Siraj Arab picked the unmarked Martz inside the area but the Austrian forward saw his effort blocked by his team-mate Gustavo Villalobos with goalkeeper Yenz Cini beaten.

Three minutes from the break goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia was alert to tip over Bobby Frederick’s long-range shot while at the other end Cini dived to his right to keep out Kyle O’Brien’s effort.

Mosta tried to seize the initiative on the restart and their efforts were rewarded in somewhat fortituous circumstances as on the hour the lively Murga broke free on the left before hitting a low cross-shot that was inadvertently deviated into the net by Pembroke defender Levnaic.

More woes followed for Pembroke as six minutes later they lost goalkeeper Farrugia through injury and was replaced by veteran Mario Muscat.

Murga should have killed off Pembroke 75 minutes when he was put clear by Frederick but the Bosnian forward was denied by a one-handed save by Muscat.
But Mosta did seal the points six minutes from time when Murga fed substitute Dyson Falzon who beat Farriga with a low drive.

Mosta striker Edin Murga was voted as the BOV Player of the match.