TARXIEN RAINBOWS 2

Woo Ling 24og

Faria 48

ST ANDREWS 1

Davis 53 pen. 

Tarxien Rainbows were back to winning ways after overcoming St Andrews 2-1, in a nerve-wrecking encounter at the Hibs Stadium. 

This was the first win for the Rainbows since defeating Pietá Hotspurs 3-0 in November and have now moved to eighth place, with 19 points. 

Meanwhile, St Andrews are still without a win since November and have slipped into 10th, with 17 points - five points ahead of the play-out spot. 

The Saints only threatened once through a Kemar Reid low drive that went inches wide. 

On 21 minutes, Ricardo Faria danced his way into the box and fired a close-range shot but Matthew Calleja Cremona was alert to avert the danger. 

Nonetheless, the Rainbows still managed to forge ahead three minutes later when the Brazilian sent an inviting cross into the box which was deflected by Woo Ling into the far corner. 

Faria opened the second half with a spectacular effort from well outside the area to double the lead for the Rainbows. 

However, the Saints were thrown a lifeline on minute 53 when Daniel Zerafa tripped Kemar Reid inside the eighteen. 

Martin Davis converted from the penalty spot to net his fifth goal of the season.

St Andrews tried to stage a reaction but they were struggling to break between the lines. Seventeen minutes from time, Reid tried his luck from outside the box but his effort went wide. 

In an attempt to level terms, Saints coach Johann Scicluna shifted Brown from a central defender role to occupy the no.9 spot inside the penalty area to exploit his physical structure. 

Tarxien could have wrapped up the game with Alex Nilsson, but his 79th-minute volley was blocked by Calleja Cremona, but the Rainbows still managed to preserve the lead and claim the three points. 

Ricardo Faria of Tarxien Rainbows was named BOV Player of the match.