Vittoriosa Stars emerged winners from a veritable relegation six-pointer against Rabat Ajax to leave the bottom two places in the table and improve their hopes to avoid relegation.

A torrential rain swept across the Centenary Stadium drenching the players for the whole match. But despite the slippery surface and the fact that the difficult conditions did not help matters, the few spectators who braved the cold weather witnessed a highly entertaining match with both terams playing attacking football with Vittoriosa holding on to a precious solitary goal after Rabat lifted their game when the change of ends but to no avail.

Vittoriosa would have taken the lead on 34 minutes but for a stunning save by Velimirovic who tipped Pereira’s effort over the bar.

On the other side, Brincat stopped a header by Licari from Carrillo’s delivery.

The brighter stuff came from Vittoriosa in those initial exchanges. Their efforts were rewarded three minutes from half-time. Martin’s sprightly movement and the constant interchanging by the Vittoriosa forwards were posing endless problems to Rabat. Martin fashioned a venomous shot that stung Velimirovic’s gloves, the rebound fell kindly for Pereira who scored his 100th goal in Malta.

When the game resumed after the half-time break, Rabat showed greater intent in search of an equaliser. In the 47th minute, Carrillo Pendas’s teasing free-kick sailed into th crowded box and towards goal but Muscat showed excellent reflexes by keeping the ball out. Five minutes later, Rabat threatened again when Joseph Caruana pounced on a short clearance but his close-range shot hit the foot of the post.

Just past the hour mark, a promising Vittoriosa attack was halted by Ivan Carapic who made a timely tackle to stop the advancing Guerrero in the box.

Sixteen minutes from time, Rabat introduced Adam Smeir after a long lay-off, believed to be the last trump card up D’Amato’s sleeve, to add more weight to their attacking threat. Smeir nearly equalised with his touch after joing the fray but his sweetly-struck header from Shawn Gauci’s cross was saved by Muscat.

A minute later, Carrillo Pendas’s low drive took a wicked deflection, wrong footing Muscat but the goalkeeper pulled off a fine reflex save.

As the minutes ticked away, Vittoriosa threatened to punish the Ajax’s flat-out approach with quick counter-attacks. Seven minutes from time, Martin broke on the counter before being thwarted by the on-rushing Velimirovic. Moments later, Pereira spurned another excellent chance to put the game to bed. And in a frantic final, the Montenegro goalkeeper saved his side again when putting his body in the way of Pereira’s goalbound effort.