GZIRA UNITED 1
ST ANDREWS 1
Gzira U: A. Curmi, R. Briffa, D. Mambouna, K. Thackray (L. Brincat), S. Borg, M. Avila Perez, E. Zarate, A. Cohen, A. Samb, H. Garba, N. Okoye (J. Corbolan)
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, J. Van De Lannoite, M. Miranda Gomez, K. Reid, R. Martin, J. Farrugia, M. Davis (A. Friggieri), M. Gauci, J. Walker, T. Azian
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, T. Zammit
4th official: I. Barbara
Scorers: K. Reid 62, A. Samb 79 pen
Yellow cards: J. Walker, S. Borg, A. Samb, M. Davis, E. Zarate, K. Thackray, K. Reid, T. Azian
Player of the match: K. Reid (St Andrews)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Calleja Cremona 2. E. Zarate 3. J. Farrugia
Attendance: 114
Gzira United agian failed to take maximum points in their bid to keep in touch with the leading duo and, following defeat against Hibernians, they had to settle for a draw against St Andrews yesterday at the Centenary Stadium.
This was another step in the right direction for St Andrews and eight points from their last five matches is not a bad yield.
Cohen and Zarate helped ensure Gzira dominated possession for long stretches but St Andrews again showed their resilience. Their performance contained enough grit to suggest they are capable of clambering towards safety. They defended resolutely and made it hard for Gzira to play through although when they did, goalkeeper Calleja Cremona showed alertness. A point was a respectable reward for their efforts.
Both Samb and Okoye are lacking the sharpness they used to show earlier in the season in front of goal. Goals are becoming hard to come by for the Maroons.
St Andrews’ line-up showed three changes from the side that beat Floriana the previous week. Coach Michael Woods dropped Grima, Jackson and Blagrove, opting for Adrian Borg, Martin Davis and Ricardo Martin as their replacements.
Gzira had Anthony Curmi back in goal instead of Haber, with Gatt Baldacchino making way for Sacha Borg in defence. Mambouna and Thackray were again their central defenders with Avila Perez and Zarate keeping cover in front of the back four. The Maroons showed their attacking intent with forwards Samb, Garba and Okoye all starting the match.
But it took the Maroons almost a whole half hour to really threaten the Saints goal. Then, on a Briffa corner from the right, Cohen headed fractionally wide. Another Cohen powerful shot was tipped over the bar by keeper Calleja Cremona before Avila Perez again forced the Saints’ keeper into another difficult save, turning over the bar into another corner.
St Andrews heeded the warning and proved menacing themselves when, on 39 minutes, a Farrugia free kick took a wicked deflection off the Gzira wall and the ball landed on the roof of the net.
With halftime looming, another Farrugia free kick fell behind the Gzira defence, Reid controlled the ball but his goalbound effort was well blocked by keeper Curmi.
Gzira again squandered chances after the break. Twice in succession, Cohen and Garba were denied by keeper Calleja Cremona, before Okoye lofted the ball with the Gzira keeper grounded.
St Andrews responded with heart and on 62 minutes, Kemar Reid stunned the Maroons and beat keeper Curmi with his drilling shot at the top corner after picking Farrugia’s pass just outside the area.
Frustrated Gzira reacted and went close to an equaliser on 68 minutes when Garba headed a Zarate deep freekick against the underside of the bar.
St Andrews continued to occupy Gzira territory and made them look uncomfortable. Miranda Gomez hit an inviting bouncing ball against the foot of the post but Gzira dragged themselves level 11 minutes before the end when Samb was felled by defender Borg inside the area to win a penalty. The same player stepped up to beat Calleja Cremona for the only time in the match and salvage a point for the Maroons.