Zejtun C 5

St George’s 1

Zejtun returned to winning ways after four consecutive defeats to beat St. george’s and push the pioneers of local football towards the Second Division.

The Saints neede only a victory to keep their hopes alive, but yesterday they were outclassed by Zejtun who scored at will especially after St. george’s missed a decisive penalty.

The penalty was missed by Inguanez on 56 minutes, a penalty which could have put the Saints level on 2-2. But from then onwards it was a one way traffic affair with Kenneth Abela scoring a hat trick to practically relegate the Saints.

In fact St. george’s are now firmly at the bottom trailing Dingli and St Patrick by three points with only one match to play.

The Saints did the early running and a Ruiz shot slightly missed the target. On six minutes Zejtun took the lead when Charlo Magro passed towards Kenneth Abela who fired a scorcher from a distance with the ball finishing in the top corner of the net.

The Saints’ reaction was an immediate one and they drew level on 17 minutes when Gary Inguanez passed towards Leonardo Rocha Dos Sanots who lobbed over the Zejtun goalkeeper and anticipated defender Matthew Borg before heading home.

On 25 minutes a Dylan Zarb shot slightly missed the crossbar and minutes later Farrugia saved an Inguanez freekick. Another freekick, this time taken by Dylan Zarb, missed the target by a whisker, and Ranier Farrugia had to charge out of position to anticipate Boutahir. On 42 minutes Zejtun took the lead again when Shaun Magro raced on the right flank and crossed towards the unmarked Kalin Ganchev who hammered at the back of the net.

On the resumption St. George’s had penalty appeals turned down and on 50 minutes an Inguanez shot was blocked by Farrugia. On 56 minutes the Saints had a golden opportunity when Leonardo Rocha Dos Santos was floored by Andre Farrugia, but from the resultant penalty goalkeeper Ranier Farrugia blocked Gary Inguanez’s shot.

On 63 minutes Zejtun scored a third goal when Keneth Abela outpaced the Saints’ defence and crossed towards Carmel Formosa who easily slotted the ball home.

Four minutes later Zejtun hammered the fourth nail in the Saints’ coffin when Edward Azzopardi’s cross from the left was met by Kenneth Abela who headed past the helpless Galea.

On 75 minutes Kenneth Abela scored his third goal following another Zejtun quick break. Zejtun were reduced to ten men ten minutes from time when Karl Vassallo was shown a second yellow card.

Zejtun C R. Farrugia, A. Farrugia, R. Cauchi, E. Azzopardi, M. Borg, N. Filipov, K. Vassallo, K. Ganchev (L. Micallef), K. Abela (W. Elzaredi), C. Formosa (D. Grech), S. Magro,

St. George’s T. Galea, L. Dos Santos Rocha, E. Sevasta, A. Abela, C. Grech, G. Inguanez (K. Grech), R. Boutahir, D. Zarb, E. Amaira (A. Bonello), J. Ruiz, A. Mercieca.

Referee Mario Apap