Pieta H. 1

Lija A. 0

Pieta H: A. Hogg, P. Aquilina, C. Okoh, B. Sciberras, G. Sciberras, S. Ciscaldi, S. Zahra, S. Ortas, S. Repuh, C. Sammut, A. Spiteri (M. Abdilla).

Lija A: S. Agius, D. Okeke, J.P. Scerri, G. Lanzon, K. Zammit (D. Cosaitis), D. Scerri (I. Pelinku), M. Gatt, G. Barry, P. Camilleri, J. Vella, Z. Anicic (E. Azzopardi).

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst refs: P. Agius, I. Miller 4th official: A. Casha.

Scorer: S. Zahra

Yellow card: G. Lanzon

Player of the match: Carl Sammut (Pieta H)

TMI top three: 1. S. Ortas 2. S. Ciscaldi 3. P. Aquilina

Stefan Zahra scored a goal of inestimable importance to Pieta before half time against Lija as Deanov's men maintained their salvation hopes alive. It was a narrow, but deserved victory for the Hotspurs, undoubtedly the better side. It takes them at the top of the Relegation Pool, six points above third placed St Patrick, with the latter, however, having a game in hand.

Pieta fluffed several chances against a jittery Lija defence, and nearly paid the penalty in the late stages. They have only their keeper Hogg to thank for preserving their win with a plucky save.

Another abject performance left Lija rooted to the bottom of the table as they never looked like halting their slump.

Both teams wanted to make up for defeats suffered in their previous outings.

Lija, had Gordon Camenzuli missing and Anicic starting the match instead. The latter's presence lasted only 22 minutes as he was injured and forced to leave the pitch.

Pieta's team sheet showed a rift of changes. Both Abshir and Calleja were dropped to the bench, replaced by Bernard Sciberras and Stefan Zahra. Andrew Spiteri started the match for Camenzuli.

Lija were the first out of the blocks, going close with a Barry header on Daniel Scerri's cross from the right after four minutes.

But Pieta did not take long to settle into the game. Around eight minutes, they forced three consecutive corners. On the last, Ortas fired a powerful shot wide.

Towards the quarter hour, with Pieta on the offensive, Repuh's cross was missed by Lija's keeper Agius but Zahra headed slightly over. An Ortas distant shot, from some 25 metres out, was turned into a corner by the outstretched Agius.

Lija looked menacing towards the half hour through substitute Azzopardi who charged inside the Pieta area, only to be halted by Okoh's timely tackle

But Pieta soon took the bit between their teeth again although they kept squandering the chances. From a Ciscaldi corner from the right, the unmarked Gareth Sciberras put his header off target. A Sammut free-kick was saved by keeper Agius with some difficulty until Pieta deservingly took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Ciscaldi put Repuh through on the left and Stefan Zahra ran in unhindered to meet the low cross and beat Agius from close range.

The pattern of the game did not change much after the interval as Pieta continued to dominate but struggled to find the second goal.

Lija's keeper Agius denied them time and again as he turned Repuh's weighted free-kick into a corner. Then Sammut's resourceful run on the left took him past three opponents. His inviting cross from the bye-line found no support and the chance went begging.

With their player coach Pelinku making an appearance as a late substitute for Daniel Scerri, Lija's best chance to draw level came three minutes from the end. Camilleri's through ball put Michael Gatt clear inside the area but Hogg rushed out to smother the danger and save the result for his side.

On the other hand Lija finished with the appearance of a side resigned to its fate.