Mqabba win to move three points clear, Marsa held

Mqabba 2
San Gwann 0

Mqabba maintained their promotion surge, having the better of San Gwann 2-0 in a keenly-contested match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

This was the third victory in a row for the Division One leaders who have now moved three points clear of Senglea at the top of the standings.

Mqabba produced some slick moves early on with Albert Busuttil, Marlon Briffa and John Paul Muscat combining well in midfield.

It was San Gwann, however, who created the first scoring opportunity after 15 minutes when Kurt Micallef served Kevin Loughborough who shot the ball feebly into Kris Calleja's hands.

Four minutes later, Mqabba took the lead. The Saints defence failed to clear a Justin Felice cross, the ball fell into the path of Uchanna Anywanna who calmly slotted the ball home.

The Nigerian almost doubled his team's lead on 28 minutes when he pounced on another moment of hesitation in the Saints defence but his shot was hooked off the line by Willy Spiteri.

It was all Mqabba now, and a minute later Justin Tellus was first to a Donald Gatt free-kick but his header was well saved by Manuel Bartolo, the San Gwann goalkeeper.

The Saints responded on 33 minutes, Chris Cuschieri firing his shot over from a Micallef cross. Two minutes from the interval, Mqabba also had a great opportunity but Edric Borg rifled wide in front of goal.

After ends were changed, Mqabba maintained their initiative and on 51 minutes, an effort from Briffa finished over. San Gwann came close to an equaliser ten minutes later but Loughborough headed just wide from an Andrew Decesare corner.

Any chance of San Gwann gaining an equaliser faded away on 71 minutes when substitute Clint Gatt, who had just come on for Mark Psaila, was sent off for a foul on goalkeeper Calleja. The decision by referee Paul Caruana to show Gatt a straight red card looked somewhat harsh.

Despite having a man less on the pitch, San Gwann sought to maintain the pressure on Mqabba and on 75 minutes Calleja was at his best to keep out a Loughborough first-time strike.

Ten minutes from time, Bartolo twice denied Mqabba from efforts by Briffa and Borg.

Mqabba now pushed forward in search of a killer goal. Muscat exchanged passes with Busuttil but his shot was again parried by Bartolo.

Substitute Joseph Achokwu should have put San Gwann on level terms when he outpaced Tellus but his lob finished just over the bar. Moments later, the Saints' Nigerian forward was denied by Calleja, the Mqabba goalkeeper.

Four minutes into stoppage time, Mqabba sealed their win when substitute Chris Borg sent a fine pass to Keith Mallia who planted the ball past the onrushing Bartolo.

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

San Gwann: M. Bartolo, C. Agius (R. Penza), K. Loughborough, L. Vella Critien, S. Vella, W. Spiteri, C. Cuschieri, S. Zammit Fava, K. Micallef, M. Psaila (C. Gatt), A. Decesare (J. Achokwu).

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Marsa 2
St George's 2

Marsa's winless streak was extended to six matches yesterday after they were held to a 2-2 draw by St George's who came into this match on the back of two wins.

For Marsa, who had shown so much promise at the start of the season, striker Gilbert Martin highlighted his fine form by notching a brace but in midfield, Michael Molzahn's team lacked creativity.

St George's, guided by Edward Darmanin, looked more determined with Anthony Ewurum also hitting two goals. All in all, the draw was a fair outcome to a thrilling match.

Marsa were the better side in the opening half even though they rarely troubled St George's. Despite holding the initiative and making good runs down the flanks, Marsa failed to create any goalscoring opportunities in the first half hour.

But, on 34 minutes, they nosed ahead. Johann Zammit drifted a ball in the area and Martin anticipated his marker to head the ball home.

Marsa's joy was shortlived as on 40 minutes Ewurum, from an angled position, deceived goalkeeper Elvin Attard with a delicate chip... a fine goal indeed.

A minute before the break, Keith Darmanin saw his shot from a free-kick well saved by Attard.

Marsa regained the lead on 50 minutes when from a swift counter-attack, Ryan Bonnici found Martin who rounded the Saints goalkeeper before shooting the ball home.

But Ewurum soon restored equilibrium for St George's when his deflected volley hit the back of the net. This was on 68 minutes.

St George's were now playing better and on 74 minutes they were unlucky not to go 3-2 up when Darmanin's shot rattled the bar.

Two minutes later, Zammit's cross-shot was turned for a corner by Andrea Gatt, the St George's goalkeeper.

Joseph Casha should have put Marsa ahead 11 minutes from the end but his tame shot was tipped away for a corner by Gatt.

Molzahn's team kept pushing for a winner and almost got it in injury time but for Gatt who blocked well Brendan Zammit's drive.

Marsa: E. Attard, J. Buttigieg, D. Vella, J. Zammit, A. Mifsud, L. Grima, K. Farrugia, G. Martin, D. Gatt (J.P. Zammit (B. Zammit), R. Bonnici, J. Casha.

St George's: A. Gatt, A. Bonello, C. Grech (J. Spiteri), J. Delia, E. Degabriele, E. Sevasta, P. Muscat, C. Brincat, A. Ewurum, K. Darmanin, I. Camilleri (T. Thomas).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.