Hamrun, Mosta move nearer to promotion

Mosta 2
Mqabba 1

Mosta made a significant step towards securing Premier League football next season after they beat rivals Mqabba by the odd goal in three at the Tedesco Stadium.

Roderick Asciak struck the winner for Mosta on 77 minutes to lift his team to second in the standings, three points adrift of leaders Hamrun Spartans. The success also extended Mosta's positive run to six matches and are now firm favourites to win one of the two promotion berths.

Inspired by their talented midfielder Dyson Falzon, Mosta dominated proceedings with Mqabba forced to defend for most of the match. Jean Paul Muscat had a glorious chance to save the match for Mqabba late on but that would have been cruel for Mosta who have not lost since the upset against Senglea on February 5.

Mosta were dangerous as early as the third minute when Yves Bilocca served Falzon but he shot straight at Mqabba goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

Falzon was again dangerous on 12 minutes. He received a ball from Ikechukwu Chibueze but fired just over from a good position.

Mosta's pressure was finally rewarded on 27 minutes when Bilocca fired a rasping volley that gave Calleja no chance.

On 33 minutes, Matthew Agius drifted a ball towards Asciak but the former Rabat forward was denied by Calleja.

Three minutes into injury time Mqabba drew level with their first shot of the match. Muscat stormed into the Mosta area and sent a teasing cross towards Marlon Briffa who nodded the ball home.

Mqabba created the first opening of the second half when on 56 minutes Annywanna headed just wide from an Albert Busuttil cross.

Mosta quickly regained the upperhand and on 70 minutes Digger Okonkwo headed just wide from a Falzon corner-kick. But seven minutes later Mosta were not to be denied. Falzon was again the provider and Asciak was first to react and headed the ball home.

Three minutes from time Mqabba almost saved it but Muscat headed wide from an inviting position.

Mosta: M. Farrugia, P. Sciriha, J. Grech (P. Vassallo), D. Okonkwo, M. Brincat (P. Camilleri), R. Asciak, R. Newell, I. Chibueze, I. Bilocca (M. Borg), B. Agius, D. Falzon.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Busuttil, J. Tellus (E. Borg), M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa, C. Borg (J. Felice), M. Gauci (A. Formosa), U. Annywanna, J.P. Muscat, A. Hili, D. Gatt.

Referee: C. Lautier.

Hamrun Spartans 2
Senglea Athletic 1

The clocked marked 93 minutes when Hamrun Spartans were leading Senglea Athletic 2-1 with the latter trying to salvage the match.

Senglea striker Timmy Thomas turned past his marker before firing a shot that seemed destined to hit the net. But goalkeeper Jason Cordina produced a magnificent save to help the Spartans preserve their advantage and earn three precious points that put them on the verge of regaining Premier League football after only one season.

Hamrun dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have wrapped things up but Senglea reacted strongly and had various chances to level matters. The Spartans stood firm and are now three points clear at the top.

At the end of the match, a scuffle broke out between both sets of supporters but luckily the police quickly managed to restore calm.

Hamrun took only five minutes to break the stalemate when Kevin Borg hit a long-range shot that completely surprised Senglea goalkeeper George Attard.

Senglea's reaction failed to arrive and on 30 minutes Gaetan Spiteri's shot was again kept out by goalkeeper Attard

Michael Degiorgio's team doubled their advantage on 39 minutes when Evano Briffa served Spiteri and the Hamrun forward shot the ball home. Three minutes from the break, Briffa again put Spiteri through but this time his shot just missed the target.

Hamrun should have added a third three minutes into the second half when from a quick break Diego Cucciardi's drive was cleared off the line by Edon Bobolayefa.

Senglea almost pulled one back on 56 minutes when Kenneth Abela saw his shot hit the upright.

The Cottonera side did managed to halve the deficit two minutes later when Darren Grech's cross was headed home by Timothy Thomas.

After that, first Mackay and then Silvio Sciberras shot just wide before Cordina saved the match for Hamrun with a top-drawer stop in injury time.

Hamrun Spartans: J. Cordina, N. Slavtchev, K. Fabri, J. Magri Overend, J. Debattista, N. Galea, K. Borg, G. Spiteri, D. Cucciardi (I. Tarik), E. Briffa (G. Bartolo), S. Sultana (S. Sadowski).

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Aquilina, S. Aquilina (S. Sciberras), T. Thomas, L. Mackay (M. Tirchett), E. Bobolayefa, G. Bonello, K. Abela, D. Grech, E. Azzopardi, R. Spiteri.

Referee: Anton Zammit.