St Andrews 2

Vittoriosa S 1

Vittoriosa Stars under the guidance of new coach Oliver Spiteri, suffered yet another defeat, as they are now fully immersed in the relegation zone. The Saints deserved their victory with two spectacular goals in a match which came bubbling to life in the second half after a boring first fourty five minutes.

The first half was very disappointing with very few scoring chances. St Andrew’s had the lion’s share of proceedings but failed to take advantage of their initial superiority. In the second part of the first half, Vittoriosa were the better team even having a couple of scoring chances.

St Andrews went close on 15 minutes with an Alinho Goncalves dipper going slightly over the bar and six minutes later went close again with a Ryan Previ effort. Vittoriosa had their first chance on 25 minutes with new signing Gary Muir hitting slightly wide.

Three minutes later Vittoriosa had their best chance when Pereira’s header was well saved by Balzan and from the rebound Balzan again denied Marcelo Pereira with a splendid save.

On the resumption Marcelo Pereira went through on the right flank and tested Balzan from an acute angle. On the other end Alinho Goncalves hit the crossbar direct from a corner kick that completely deceived goalkeeper Vella.

On 48 minutes St Andrews broke the deadlock when Ribeiro passed towards Nicky Vella Petroni who beat Vella with the ball smashing against the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net.

On 57 minutes St Andrews were unlucky not to double the score when an Alinho Goncalves scorcher smashed against the crossbar. On the hour Vittoriosa’s Barbara passed towards substitute Adam Spiteri whose close range shot was brilliantly saved by Balzan.

On 72 minutes Vittoriosa were back on level terms when a Marcelo Pereira freekick was partially saved by goalkeeper Balzan and from the rebound Ramon Dos Santos was on hand to slot the ball home from close range.

Vittoriosa were playing better now but as they pushed forward to take the lead. But on 79 minutes St. Andrew’s scored what proved to be the winner. It was breath taking goal scored by Ryan Previ who fired in the top corner from the edge of the area for a real match winner.

Vittoriosa tried to save the match with a later rally, but all they had to their credit was an Adam Spiteri header that went inches wide.

St. Andrew’s – D. Balzan, N. Chetcuti, A. Camilleri Kamsky, B. Said, K. Galea, A. Nakuaa, R. Previ (M. Calleja), M. Ellul, N. Vella Petroni, V. Alinho Goncalves (F. Alkanua), G. Ribeiro.

Vittoriosa S – J.M. Vella, L. Vella Critien, J. Camilleri, B. Bonnic (S. Tellus), M. Barbara, G. Muir, L. Ramon Dos Santos, M. Pereira, L. Scerri (K.M. Robinson), D. Pace (A. Spiteri), J. Dalli.

Referee – Malcolm Spiteri

Second win for Saints

Lija A 0

St Patrick 1

St Patrick registered their second victory of the season beating Lija Athletic in a direct clash in the lower part of the table.

The win lifts St Patrick as the relegation issue is now wide open with Lija, St Patrick, St George’s and Vittoriosa fully immersed in the danger zone.

The game had a very quite start with the first shot at goal coming on 27 minutes, when St. Patrick forged ahead. Blendi Gockaj won a loose ball in the heart of the Lija penalty area and passed towards Alex Ellul who anticipated defender Daniel Scerri to beat Ini with a low drive.

Lija went close eight minutes later but defender Andreas Galea saved the day for the Saints blocking Anoine Sacco who was completely unmarked on the left flank.

St Patrick went close a second goal five minutes from the break when Gockaj’s shot on the turn sailed slightly over the bar. In Lija’s last effort before half time, Antoine sacco’s header from a Darmanin corner missed the crossbar by inches.

In the second period St Patrick defended their slender lead with Lija unable to create scoring chances, with their best effort coming from Timothy Fleri Soler whose point blank shot was brilliantly saved by Jonathan Grech.

Lija A – E. Ini, T. Fleri Soler, C. Giordemaina, R. Conceicao, D. Scerri, D. Mintoff (B. Fenech), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige, A. Sacco.

St. Patrick – J. Grech, E. Grech, M. Vella, C. Camilleri (M. Xerri), A. Ellul (Jos. Farrugia), B. Gockaj (R. Vella), S. Spasov, M. Onourah, S. Zerafa, J. Farrugia, A. Galea.

Referee – Adrian Azzopardi