St Patrick trounce Mosta to go top

St Patrick 4
Mosta 0

St Patrick put on a performance of guile, style, energy and finesse to outplay promotion rivals Mosta to go top of the Division One standings.

Mosta might claim that St Patrick's opening goal arrived in controversial circumstances with referee Paul Caruana ignoring an offside flag by his counterpart Philip Agius, however, in reality Winston Muscat's side were worth their emphatic win.

Inspired by man-of-the-match Gary Inguanez St Patrick are a hard nut to crack.

On his part Mosta coach Michael Molzahn surprised a few when he left Gianluca Calabretta, Elton Vella and Carlos Camenzuli on the bench.

At least Vella was introduced at the beginning of the second-half, with Camenzuli coming in late on, but at this stage it was too late.

Mosta were the first team to go close. The clock marked eight minutes when from a Ryan Deguara cross, James Borg's header finished inches wide.

Here goalscoring chances were few and far between with St Patrick banking on the surging runs from Peter Anizoba. The Nigerian came close on 33 minutes but his first-time volley finished just wide.

Ten minutes from half-time the stalemate was broken and it was St Patrick who took the lead. Roderick Briffa was judged to be in an offsided position by assistant referee Philip Agius but referee Caruana waved play on and the Saints midfielder soon squared the ball towards Inguanez who tapped the ball home.

Three minutes later Mosta were unlucky not to draw level when Steve Borg hit the post from just inside the area following a James Borg free-kick.

The Zabbar side doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when Thomas Caruana headed home from an Anizoba cross.

On 50 minutes, Mosta could have reduced the arrears when Briffa failed to clear and Anthony Ewurum's drive was blocked by Cassar. Two minutes later Tonio Saliba should have done better when he shot wide from seven metres.

Mosta threw everyone forward leaving gaps at the back. In fact on the hour mark St Patrick made it 3-0. Peter Anizoba played a brilliant one-two with Inguanez, who found Beppe Muscat unmarked, and the striker turned past Jonathan Debono to score.

St Patrick sealed the points on 71 minutes when Anizoba thumped the ball home after Inguanez's volley had come off the upright.

Mosta were denied a consolation goal on 75 minutes when Cassar effected a fine save on Ewurum.

St Patrick: D. Cassar, M. Pullicino (J. Farrugia), R. Briffa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa (D. Galea), G. Inguanez, T. Caruana, T. Farrugia, P. Anizoba, B. Bonnici, B. Muscat.

Mosta: J. Debono, B. Agius (E. Vella), A. Borg, J. Borg (L. Micallef), S. Borg, G. Camilleri, R. Deguara (C. Camenzuli), A. Ewurum, M. Farrugia, N. Gatt, T. Saliba.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Man of the Match: Gary Inguanez (St Patrick).