ST ANDREWS 1

Davis 12

STA LUCIA 4

Teixeira Maia 10, 75 pen.; Mendoza 17, 60

Sta Lucia will be playing in the local top flight for the first time in their history after emphatically beating St Andrews in the relegation-promotion play-off and gain back-to-back promotions.

They now join champions Sirens and Gudja as the three promoted teams in the premier league.

The first fire-cracker was provided by St Andrews. Joseph Farrugia set free by Martin Davis, headed fiercely towards goal only for Ryan Caruana to fling himself to the right and pull off a smart save.

On 10 minutes, St Andrews went surging forward again and this time it was Vukovic who denied them when fending off Aidan Friggieri’s effort on the line with Caruana beaten. Sta Lucia quickly transferred the ball forward to Patrick Teixeira Maia who lifted a fine strike over stranded Matthew Calleja Cremona.

Sta Lucia’s joy was short-lived since from the ensuing charging-down by Davis, the Jamaican hit a low drive, with the ball nestling into the net behind Caruana. On the quarter of the hour mark, Calleja Cremona tipped a Jurgen Suda’s effort to a corner. From the ensuing flag-kick, Teixeira Maia chipped a perfect cross towards the middle, where David Usuga Mendoza, on the full trot, hit a low shot into the net.

Not surprisingly, Sta Lucia struck again on the hour mark, Suda’s inswinger from corner was touched away by Calleja Cremona. The loose ball came to Usuga Mendoza who glancing header sailed into the top corner.

There was only one time in the picture now, despite Joseph Farrugia’s bold attempts to salvage some pride. On 75 minutes, the Division One outfit, were three goals up. A push by Travis Balgrove on Luis Mosquera Segura Mosquera as the striker tumbled to the ground, the referee Etienne Mangion ordered the ultimate punishment and sent off the defender. Teixeira Maia kept his cool to beat Calleja Cremona again.