Qormi 0
St. Andrew's 2
Qormi : J. Azzopardi, D. Mansi, Y. Yankam, I. Kim Seo, M. Camilleri ( M. Arrieta 62') , L. Busuttil (M. Micallef 80') , M. Borg, A. Cassar, A. Ferreira, K. Soares Mendonca, I. Zammit
St. Andrew's : M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, K. McFarlane, T. Blagrove, K. Atkinson, J. Farrugia (M. Woo Ling 73') , K. Magro, A. Borg, A. Brown, M. Davis ( J. Walker 68'), D. Jackson (A. Friggieri 62')
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Asst refs: Christopher Francalanza, Mitchell Scerri
4th official: Alex Johnson
Scorers: Adrian Borg 23', Kevaughn Atkinson 85' (p)
Yellow cards: M. Camilleri, A. Borg, J. Azzopardi, I. Zammit
Player of the match: Kevaughn Atkinson (St. Andrew's)
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Azzopardi 2. K. Atkinson 3. M. Davis
Attendance: 424
St. Andrew's gained their second consecutive win when in a balanced match they defeated Qormi by two goals to nil. The Saints held the edge over their opponents but they left it late to seal the issue.
The Saints were looking to build up on the good win they gained before the international break when they disposed of Birkirkara by two late goals. Prior to this they had succumbed to four consecutive defeats.
Qormi were eager to register their second win of the campaign with their only win dating back to August being the first day of the league when they had beaten Senglea by a solitary goal. In their last match they lost narrowly to leaders Gzira.
Tensior Gusman and Gaetano Gesualdi were ruled out for Qormi through suspension. Johann Scicluna made two changes from their last match with Kurt Magro and Degran Jackson given a starting role in place of Ricardo Martin and Kemar Reid.
In the 10th minute off a Davis cross Atkinson failed to connect from close range. With the Saints taking the lead in the 23rd minute when Farrugia sent a dangerous ball from a well taken free kick from the right side an din came Adrian Borg who slotted the ball past a helpless Azzopardi.
On 28th minute Kim fired a shot from the edge of the area but it took a deflection and the danger was finally cleared. Four minutes later Qormi went near when Camilleri sent a cross from the left flank with Pereira missing to head home from close range.
On the other end St. Andrew's countered immediately with Davis setting Atkinskon but his low acute drive was blocked by an alert Azzopardi. And a minute from the break came Qormi best chance with Ferreira finding Yankam but his effort was blocked by Calleja Cremona.
On the change of ends Atkinson was denied by an onrushing Azzopardi who blocked his effort. And in the 54th minute Camilleri caused havoc in the opposing area with the ball being cleared to safety by the Saints rearguard. With Qormi going near once again when Mansi's headed effort was tipped over by Calleja Cremona.
On 56 minutes a good run by Atkinson towards goal was brought to an end by Azzopardi who timed well and blocked. Twelve minutes from the end St Andrew's failed to seal the issue when Atkinson with only Azzopardi to beat shot centrally with the Qormi custodian saving for the upteenth time.
But the Saints finally wrapped it up when in the 85th minute. Friggieri was floored in the area by Azzopardi and from the resultant penalty Kevaughn Atkinson blasted the ball in the top corner.
