FLORIANA       0

ST ANDREWS  1

Woo Ling 66

St Andrews kept alive their hopes of playing in the Premier League next season when they surprised Floriana at the National Stadium on Monday.

The match turned out to be quite lively for much of the opening 45 minutes with Floriana holding the majority of possession with St Andrews operating on quick breaks through their pacey forwards Aidan Friggieri and Martin Davis.

The Jamaican winger immediately showed his qualities after 12 minutes when managed to move past Emerson Marcelina but his low drive was well saved by Ini Akpan.

Floriana responded three minutes later. Kevin McFarlane failed to boot away Alex Cini’s cross and Brandon Paiber saw his shot deflected over by the Saints defender.

On 23 minutes Clyde Borg came close but his inswinging drive just flew over the cross bar.

St Andrews goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona was called to make his first save on 33 minutes when he blocked Arthur Oyama’s cross-shot.

Kristian Keqi was unlucky not to give Floriana the lead seven minutes from the break when his thumping drive came off the bar.

St Andrews also hit the woodwork on the stroke of half-time.

Friggieri fed Matthew Woo Ling who moved past his marker but his firm drive came off the bar.

On the restart, Floriana regained control of the match and on 54 minutes, the upright came to St Andrew’s rescue.

Borg found Keqi who whizzed his way inside the area but his effort came off the upright.

However, it was St Andrews who took the lead on 67 minutes courtesy of a huge blunder from Floriana goalkeeper Ini Akpan.

The Saints won a free-kick on the right and Woo Ling inswinger looked easy prey for the Greens custodian but he incredibly let the ball pass through his fingers and bounce into the net.

Floriana looked shell-shocked and on 69 minutes Martin Davis powered his way into the area and his effort was pushed away with difficulty by Akpan.

The Greens’ response looked sterile and St Andrews almost grabbed a second six minutes from time when Joseph Farrugia picked the sprinting Friggieri inside the area and and his downward header was excellently kept out by Akpan.

Matthew Woo Ling was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

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