St Andrew’s 0
St George’s 1
The Division One championship got underway yesterday at the Tedesco Stadium with St George’s chalking up the first victory in a drab match against St Andrew’s decided by a Gary Inguanez goal.
St George’s saw more of the ball but St Andrew’s deserved a point as they were the better-organised team, particularly at the back.
At the start, both teams seemed interested not to concede a goal rather than venturing forward in search of an opener.
Chances, in fact, were few and far in between. St Andrew’s looked more effective when going forward though.
From one of their rare counter-attacks St Andrews nearly took the lead.
This came on 35 minutes when Vella Petroni headed into the path of Jack Pallen whose effort finished just over the bar. Just before half-time, Englishman Pallen tried to lob the ball over Thomas Galea but the St George’s keeper did well to deny St Andrew’s from a goal.
St George’s scored the goal that mattered on 48 minutes.
Their opponents failed to clear the ball from their own box with Inguanez first to pounce on a loose ball and chip it home past keeper Ibrahim.
St Andrew’s were unlucky not to equalise two minutes later when Galea failed to clear the ball but Vella Petroni’s header went wide.
St Andrew’s continued to pile up the pressure and came close eight minutes from time when a Valenzia delivery found Pallen on the right spot but his shot was stopped by Galea.
In a late counter-attack, St George’s substitute Josef Dalli charged forward only to be stopped by defender Jonathan Bugeja. The tackle looked legitimate to those at the stadium but the referee thought otherwise and red-carded the St Andrew’s player.
St Andrew’s: D. Ibrahim, J. Bugeja, R. Hartvig, M. Borg, N. Chetcuti (K. Coleiro), P. Briscoe White (M. Calleja), J. Briscoe White, N. Vella Petroni (E. Grima), M. Valenzia, W. Camilleri, J. Pallen.
St George’s: T. Galea, A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, N. Caruana, G. Inguanez (D. Zahra), E. Amaira (J. Dalli), B. Fenech, D. Zarb (T. Farrugia), G. Bonello, C. Grech, L. Stivala.
Referee: Sammy Attard.
Man of the match: Dylan Zarb (St George’s).
Mosta 0
Balzan Youths 0
Balzan and Mosta shared the spoils in a game where more was expected from two sides heavily tipped to rank among the front runners in the championship this season.
But, like the game before, these two teams adopted ultra-cautious tactics and the main aim was not to leave the stadium empty-handed. To their credit, Oliver Spiteri’s Mosta upped their play in the second half but to no avail as no goals were scored.
While striker Uchanna Anywanna never stopped running for Balzan, despite not being 100 per cent fit, Gilbert Martin stole the show with some neat touches and fine moves for Mosta.
It was the Blues who threatened first in the eighth minute when a William Camenzuli shot finished high and wide.
Nine minutes later a Renato Garcia Conceicao scissors kick was saved by Jonathan Debono following a corner.
On 22 minutes, a Ryan Deguara grounder finished just wide and soon after Anywanna’s sprint finished with the Nigerian shooting poorly into the hands of keeper Debono.
Mosta produced an exhilarating move on 38 minutes when the ever-present Martin found Ryan Deguara who was unmarked in front of Frederick Tabone, but took too long to conclude and the Balzan keeper blocked his shot.
On resumption, Debono made a fine save off Simon Mizzi’s header following a Steve Meilak cross. Mosta responded with a Martin first-time effort from just outside the area that brushed against the crossbar.
Four minutes later Nikola Bogdanovic drove the ball wide from an acute angle following some good work by Martin.
On 83 minutes Anywanna met a measured pass by Conceicao but drove the ball wide from close range. That was the last real chance for the two teams to open the score.
Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, M. Brincat, K. Spiteri, W. Camenzuli, N. Bogdanovic, R. Deguara, L. Grima (A. Cini), S. Shead (J. Bajada), G. Martin.
Balzan: F. Tabone, J. Francica, R. Conceicao, R. Forace, C. Ciantar, B. Bondin, M. Sciortino (S. Mizzi), D. Fenech (S. Ciscaldi), U. Anywanna, R. Farrugia, S. Meilaq (A. Agius).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Man of the match: Gilbert Martin (Mosta).