Dingli Swallows 4
Rabat Ajax 1
Dingli Swallows will be playing in the Premier League next season for the first time in their history when yesterday they eased past rivals Rabat to seal promotion.
Jesmond Zammit's men pipped Pietà Hotspurs for the remaining berth in the Premier League as they finished top of the standings level on points with Vittoriosa Stars and the two teams will now face each other in a Championship decider. The match will be played on Tuesday at the Hibs Ground at 7 p.m.
Dingli were on the offensive right from the start. On six minutes a header by Uchanna Anywanna finished just over and moments later the Nigerian saw his effort hit the upright.
The Swallows took the lead on 20 minutes when the unmarked Anywanna stabbed home a Kurt Formosa cross.
Two minutes later Rabat were awarded a penalty when Adam Smeir was floored by Edwin Casha, but the same Smeir saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.
Rabat paid dearly for this miss as Dingli made it 2-0 a minute later. Christopher Ciappara drove home an Etienne Farrugia cross.
Rabat pulled one back on the half hour when Smeir made up for his penalty miss when he drove the ball home from eight metres.
On resumption Dingli kept up the initiative and on 50 minutes a long-range free-kick by Gordon Failla was saved by James Borg.
Three minutes later the Swallows made it 3-1 when Ciappara beat Borg with a close range header.
Dingli should have scored a fourth on 58 minutes when Etienne Farrugia's low drive came off the post.
Rabat responded on the hour. Smeir's drive was cleared off the line by Christian Muscat.
Dingli wrapped up the points on 63 minutes when Christian Muscat dribbled past two players on the left flank and crossed for Anywanna to score his 12th goal of the season.
Dingli: J. Farrugia (R. Grech), E. Casha, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, K. Formosa, V. Fiteni, C. Muscat (J. Agius), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (C. Azzopardi), G. Failla, U. Anywanna.
Rabat: J. Borg, N. Caruana, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, P. Ciantar, A. Smeir (G. Magri), D. Falzon, E. Muscat, V. Causchi, E. Azzopardi (D. Azzopardi).
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Man of the match: Uchanna Anywanna (Dingli Swallows).