Fluke goal puts Marsa in second round

St Andrew's 0
Marsa 1

Marsa are through to the next round of the FA Trophy after beating St Andrew's 1-0 in a difficult match for Michael Molzahn's side who are gunning for promotion to the Premier League. Marsa's goal had luck written all over it.

The Saints made life difficult for the more quoted Marsa side but they have to improve come next Saturday when both clubs meet again in a First Division league match, also at the Centenary Stadium.

Marsa had first-choice striker Gilbert Martin on the bench as he was not 100 per cent fit. But, surely, that of yesterday was not one of the best displays Marsa have produced this season.

They started the game by pinning their opponents into their own half in order to get an early goal. All indications were that a Marsa comfortable victory was just mere formality.

But this did not materialise and as time passed by St Andrew's started to move out of their defensive shell to pose some problems. In fact, they did create a few openings, which, unluckily for them, all went abegging.

The game was far off a cup tie with St Andrew's playing a prudent match at the back and Marsa finding it difficult to break down their opponents' resistance.

After only two minutes Timmy Thomas turned well in the St Andrew's box but his fierce drive was well saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

In the 11th minute, a perfect John Paul Zammit through pass was aimed at Thomas, but the former Senglea striker was too slow to react in front of goal.

Anthony Garcia's side responded in the 15th minute when an Anthony Galea drive from around 20 metres forced Ivan Casha into his first intervention.

Despite their possession Marsa were finding the going harder than they had anticipated but went close again in the 26th minute when a Kevin Scerri cross was again aimed at Thomas, who controlled the ball before firing goalwards, an effort that was ably turned to a corner by the alert Debono... surely this was not Thomas's day.

The Saints could have taken the lead on the half hour when Rachid Salem al Nagiem was too quick for the Marsa rearguard. He entered the box, back-heeled a pass to the onrushing Mark Hyzler who shot over the bar from 15 metres out.

Marsa scored what proved to be the winning goal two minutes before the break.

A Joseph Casha header from a corner lacked precision and looked out of target but the ball hit a defender before finishing at the back of the net with Debono helpless on his line.

The second half was less attractive than the first with Marsa, perhaps, starting as the better side and seeing more of the ball as Anthony Garcia's side were looking to venture forward more often.

On 54 minutes a good move by St Andrew's saw Al Nagiem crossing the ball invitingly in the Marsa box but Mark Hyzler incredibly failed to conclude when in front of goal.

Marsa moved back and St Andrew's were now in command. They had a couple of chances to draw level but failed to conclude, notably Brian Chetcuti. In the 69th minute, he lobbed over the bar from an ideal position.

Quite surprisingly, Marsa lost most of their composure.

Doing so well in the league, winning four matches and drawing one, they suddenly found their backs to the wall against a team struggling in the Division One championship. Coach Michael Molzahn even introduced Martin midway through the half to keep some of the pressure off their rearguard.

Two minutes from time, Garcia's side could have taken the game into extra-time when substitute Tyron Ghirxi, a former Senglea defender, crossed a glorious ball to Michael Mangion. All Mangion had to do was to nod the ball in, but instead he headed high and wide to squander his side's chances of staying in the competition.

St Andrew's: J. Debono, I. Borg ('58 B. Chetcuti), Arnold Galea, S. Falzon, J. Sank, R. Briffa, J. Sant Fournier, Anthony Galea ('85 T. Ghirxi), R. Salem El Nagiem, M. Mangion, M. Hyzler.

Marsa: I. Casha, D. Vella, K. Scerri, T. Thomas, N. Slavtchev, N. Fasa-Nelli), B. Zammit ('46 D. Gatt), S. Meilak, J. Casha ('63 G. Martin), J.P. Zammit, R. Micallef.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Scorer: Casha 43.

Yellow Cards: Sant Fournier, Arnold Galea, Anthony Galea.