St Patrick 1
Gatt 53
St George's 0
Although not showing the same kind of tactical discipline and determination displayed in their last games, St Patrick still did enough to register their third victory of the season and move top of the standings on the 10-point mark.
Winston Muscat's side found the going tough against a spirited St George's who succumbed to their first upset of the season.
This was a game very similar to the previous one at the Tedesco Stadium. Both teams covered acres of ground, especially at the back, leaving very few options for the respective midfielders to carve out any openings.
St Patrick rely too heavily on Peter Anizoba but yesterday he was mostly subdued due to tight marking. St George's had John Nwoba running the whole length of the pitch but missed two sitters as it was clearly not his day.
The first scoring opportunity of the game fell St Patrick's way when on 27 minutes Jurgen Farrugia shot high and wide after he was put through by Anizoba.
The pattern of the game never changed with much of the proceedings happening in midfield. But five minutes from the break, Lawrence Mizzi should have done better than shooting wide after a fine solo run.
Both teams upped the tempo after the break and on 53 minutes St Patrick scored what proved to be the winning goal. Following a melee inside the St George's area, Daniel Gatt blasted the ball home from close range.
St George's coach Joey Falzon immediately regrouped his troops and on 59 minutes Nwoba shot incredibly high from in front of goal. Now, it was all St George's and ten minutes later a Benoir Fenech drive was cleared off the line by the well-positioned Alex Ellul.
The side from Cottonera continued to push more men forward. They relied mainly on crosses inside the box which, however, were dealt with by goalkeeper David Cassar.
Two minutes from time Clayton Micallef, of St Patrick, was sent off for dissent prompting Muscat to urge his men to remain calm and boot the ball upfield for Anizoba. On 91 minutes the Nigerian released Jurgen Farrugia who from 10 metres out rattled the bar.
A minute later Anizoba left his markers in his wake but his final shot was ably stopped by goalkeeper Andrea Gatt.
St Patrick
D. Cassar, M. Pullicino, R. Briffa, G. Inguanez, A. Ellul, T. Caruana (I. Scicluna), C. Micallef, P. Anizoba, J. Farrugia, D. Gatt (T. Farrugia), B. Muscat.
St George's
A. Gatt, C. Grech, A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, E. Degabriele, J. Nwoba, L. Mizzi (T. Thomas), B. Fenech (C. Schiavone), H. Schembri, G. Bonello (I. Curmi), E. Amaira.
Referee: Saviour Tanti.
Red card: C. Micallef (SP) 88.
Man of the match: David Cassar (St Patrick).