Zejtun Corinthians 3
Dingli Swallows 0

Żejtun Corinthians bounced back from two successive defeats as they eased past Dingli Swallows yesterday.

Joey Falzon’s team are now in a safer mid-table position and can still get back in the reckoning for a promotion slot as they are just four points adrift of leaders Naxxar.

Dingli, on their part, remain third-from-bottom and still with plenty of work to do to retain their Division One status.

Żejtun were almost handed the lead after just six minutes when Dingli defender Fabio Cauchi tried a back pass to his goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia who was caught by surprise. Luckily for Dingli, Cauchi’s ball finished over the bar.

From the ensuing corner, taken by Hamza Chaib, Daniel Zahra’s header was easily dealt with by Farrugia.

The Corinthians insisted in attack and took the lead on 26 minutes when Kenneth Abela headed home from an Andre Farrugia cross.

A minute from the break, the Dingli keeper produced a smart save off an Andre Farrugia drive to stop Żejtun from doubling their lead.

In first-half added time, Chaib saw his header again repelled by the alert Farrugia.

Żejtun did not take too long to make it 2-0 after the break. In fact, on 48 minutes Zahra anticipated his marker to head home from an Edward Azzopardi corner.

Dingli could have reduced the arrears soon after but Senior David’s shot graced the crossbar.

However, that turned out to be David’s last contribution to the match as on 66 minutes he was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a foul on Żejtun keeper Ranier Farrugia.

Not surprisingly, the Corinthians wrapped up the win on 70 minutes.

Azzopardi sent an inviting ball into the box and Abela was alert to head into the Dingli net.

Dingli were unlucky late on when they hit the woodwork three times in the same action following efforts from Kurt Pace, Emanuel Muscat and Leontiv Konda.

Żejtun: R. Farrugia, A. Farrugia (R. DeGabriele), E. Azzopardi, C. Magro (M. Borg), Z. Vukovic, D. Zahra, K. Vassallo, H. Chaib, D. Zarb, A. Carabott (K. Zahra), K. Abela.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli (L. Micallef), K. Pace, F. Cauchi, L. Konda, R. Vella (L. Borg), J. Pace, S. David, E. Farrugia, E. Muscat, E. Grech.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Kenneth Abela (Żejtun Corinthians).