Mellieha 1
Mosta 2
Mosta had the better of Mellieha yesterday to continue their fight for promotion to the Premier League.
Michael Molzahn's team were the better side and there was no doubt where the points were heading despite the narrow scoreline indicating differently.
Mosta paraded new striker Ndayi Kalenga, a 29-year-old Congolese. The former Xaghra and Ghajnsielem striker had a positive debut and put his new team ahead on 29 minutes when he headed in a Steve Borg cross from the right.
Mosta had Daniel Theuma back but Massimo Grima and Antonio Saliba were serving suspension. Gilbert Martin was also out of the squad after being banned for 28 days by own club for disciplinary reasons.
Mosta held most of the possession but rarely ventured inside the Mellieha box. They tried to build their attacks from the flanks with northerners keeper Simon Gauci dominating in his area and punching away all trouble.
On 20 minutes, the Mellieha no.1 had to be at his best when turning the ball to a corner following a crisp Elton Vella grounder.
But then came Kalenga's goal and Mosta made it 2-0 on 32 minutes when Vella fired home a first-time effort.
On 35 minutes, Vella again tried his luck from outside the box but his bending drive just missed the target. Five minutes later it was Vella, again, whose curler finished just over the bar.
After the break, Mosta continued where they had left off in the first half, dictating matters and doing most of the attacks.
Then, against the run of play, Wayne Borg St John reduced the arrears for Mellieha on 52 minutes.
Mosta continued to show the better football but Mellieha looked dangerous each time they hit on the break, particularly when the ball was at Gianluca Calabretta's feet.
However, there were no more goals to record and deep into stoppage time Mellieha had substitute Paul Vella sent off for dissent.
Mellieha: S. Gauci, F. Vella, M. Abela, W. Borg, G. Calabretta, K. Gauci, W. Borg St John (P. Vella), R. Vella, P. Camilleri (M. Borg), L. Cauchi, S. Costa Brasilino.
Mosta: J. Debono, M. Abela, A. Borg, S. Borg (P. Vassallo), M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (J. Borg), R. Deguara, M. Farrugia, C. Pace (C. Sant), E. Vella, N. Kalenga.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Man of the match: Elton Vella (Mosta).
Vittoriosa Stars 2
St George's 0
In front of a sizeable crowd at the Tedesco Stadium, Vittoriosa stunned promotion favourites and rivals St George's to move to safer waters in the standings. The return of Vittoriosa's Anthony Evi Parker from a long-term suspension made the difference between the two sides.
Evi Parker was inactive for the past three months but came back with a bang. He scored the first goal and had a say in the second for a deserved victory that lifted the Stars at a par with St George's on 13 points.
There was little of note in the opening half. It was Michael Woods' Saints who looked better but Vittoriosa were always alert to carve an opening with Evi Parker playing as an advanced midfielder laying some good passes for his colleagues.
Massimo Cremona made some changes to his side as Ivan Zammit started on the bench while Lucian Scerri, Keith Darmanin, Stephen Calleja and Trevor Thomas were not among the starters as well.
Peter Anizoba missed a good opportunity from close range early on for St George's but this was perhaps the only good thing about the game at that stage. In fact, it took almost half an hour for another shot at goal when Timothy Thomas's drive from the edge of the area found Andrea Gatt in the Saints goal well positioned to save.
On resumption, Evi Parker miscued his shot from a favourable position but on 52 minutes Vittoriosa took the lead. Evi Parker received a long ball and with the Saints' rearguard at sixes and sevens the Nigerian hit a scorcher to beat Gatt.
Vittoriosa were playing the better football now and on 65 minutes they could have doubled their lead but Evi Parker's close-range header was saved by the Saints goalkeeper following a Robert Adami cross.
In the 70th minute, it was Evi Parker again who started a good flowing move that saw Thomas bringing the best out of Gatt.
Vittoriosa sealed victory seven minutes from time when Evi Parker sped through before the ball rolled into Scerri's patch who hammered home from close in.
Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, S. Privitelli, J. Camilleri, C. Sciberras, Tim. Thomas (I. Zammit), R. Adami, L. Grech (L. Scerri), L. Lagana (S. Calleja), J. Spiteri, D. Gauci, A. Evi Parker.
St George's: A. Gatt, C. Grech, A. Bonello, J. Delia, S. Cassar (L. Agius), K. Xuereb, E. Amaira (M. Mifsud), S. Sciberras (V. Camilleri), G. Barry, P. Anizoba, H. Schembri.
Referee: Adrian Casha.
Man of the match: Anthony Evi Parker (Vittoriosa).