Clash of the 'saints' ends all square

St Andrews 1
St Patrick 1

A BORING draw between promoted team St Andrews and St Patrick, who have just been relegated from the Premier League, means that both sides are still without a win in the First Division.

For St Andrews, this is also their first point of the season. St Patrick tried hard to win this encounter but they were too erratic and without any guile to kill off the game.

The first half was played at a slow pace with only the goals that decided the match being worth mentioning.

After 18 minutes St Andrews opened the score. A Michael Borg Olivier cross was half-cleared by the St Patrick rearguard and the ball fell in front of Joe Sant Fournier who tried his luck from long range. Anthony Galea met the ball and his effort rocketed straight into the net, giving debutant Sean Mintoff, in the St Patrick goal, no chance.

Bobby Giorev's side reacted in the 24th minute when a Benior Fenech through-pass found the Brazilian Sandro Costa Brazilino who was tripped by Junior Sank in the area.

St Patrick defender Robert Cassar equalised from the spot. From then on, most of the play took place in the middle of the park with chances for both sides few and far between.

On 49 minutes, St Andrews ventured forward when Borg Olivier found himself unmarked following some erratic defending by the St Patrick rearguard, but his shot was blocked by Mintoff's legs.

The Saints responded in the 54th minute when a Cassar free-kick caused panic in the St Andrews rearguard but Fenech failed to capitalise.

In the 65th minute, Mark Tanti, for St Patrick, shot high from just inside the area. Ten minutes from time they could have won the points when substitute Gilbert Scerri supplied the unmarked Thomas Caruana in the area but the latter failed to make any contact.

St Andrews: J. Debono, J. Sank, S. Falzon, T. Ghirxi, R. Briffa, A. Galea, M. Mangion, M. Borg Olivier, N. Veselji (I. Borg), R. Salem Al Nagiem, J. Sant Fournier (J. Briscoe White).

St Patrick: S. Mintoff, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg, M. Zerafa, L. Bartolo (G. Scerri), S. Costa Brazilino, G. Failla, T. Caruana (A. Camilleri), C. Vassallo, (M. Tanti), B. Fenech, S. Zerafa.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

MARSA 0
Lija Athletic 0

Lija Athletic are still searching for their first win of the season but yesterday, they spoiled Marsa's 100 per cent record in Division One when holding them to a 0-0 draw.

Lija gave their best performance so far this season but Marsa were the only side who played for a win which explains why, at the final whistle, Lija looked happier with the result than their counterparts.

The first 45 minutes did not produce much, the wind making it difficult for both teams to play good football.

Marsa, who routed Naxxar Lions 4-0 last weekend, produced the better fare but had to wait until the 34th minute to create the first threat. Gilbert Martin found Timmy Thomas, who, in front of goal, shot wide.

A minute later Lija keeper Etienne Mercieca saved a well-taken free-kick by Nikolai Slavtchev. The last real threat in the first half again came Marsa's way when Martin tried his luck with an overhead kick from just outside the area but again Mercieca was in the right place to save.

On the resumption, Marsa went close when Cutajar found Martin in the box but the usually deadly striker had his shot saved by the Lija custodian. From the rebound Casha hit the woodwork from a good position.

Marsa continued to press forward but Mercieca stood firm. In the 73rd minute, the Lija goalkeeper effected a fine save when parrying a well-taken Martin free-kick.

In the final stages, Marsa bombarded the Lija defence with Mercieca again saving another dangerous free-kick from Martin in stoppage time.

Marsa: I. Casha, D. Vella, T. Thomas (I. Borg), N. Slavtchev, S. Borda (S. Meilaq), G. Martin, S. Cutajar, K. Scerri, J. Casha, J.P. Zammit, R. Micallef.

Lija: E. Mercieca, J.P. Scerri, A. Ellul, J. Cauchi, J. Camilleri, G. Camenzuli (D. Cremona), G. Barry, P. Camilleri, B. Lowell, Z. Anicic, B. Antignolo (E. Azzopardi).

Referee: Ian Miller.