St. Andrew's 1
Senglea A. 2
St Andrew's: M. Calleja Cremona, K. McFarlane (M. Woo Ling 80'), R. Martin (K. Magro 56'), T. Blagrove, K. Atkinson, J. Farrugia, A. Borg, K. Pulo, J. Walker (A. Friggieri 59'), A. Brown, M. Davis
Senglea: M. Farrugia, M. Ivanovic, B. Muscat, L. Grech (M. Bartolo 89'), B. Volpini (A. White 90'), I. Gonzalez, Z. Cassar, F. Bramati, N. Garcia, A. Caseres, R. Tcanturia (K. Cutajar 87')
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Asst refs: Jurgen Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
4th official: Ezekiel Barbara
Scorers: Romani Tcanturia 45' (p) , Alexis Volpini 60', A. Borg 90'
Yellow cards: R. Martin, B. Muscat, R. Tcanturia, A. Brown, N. Garcia, K. Macfarlane, A. Volpini
Red Card: A. Caseres
Player of the match: A. Volpini (Senglea A.)
TMI Top 3: 1. R. Tcanturia 2. L. Grech 3. A. Volpini
Senglea registered their first win of the campaign when in a direct encounter from the bottom half of the table they beat St. Andrew's by a 2-1 scoreline. It was a merited win for Senglea who were the better team all throughout. They continued to show signs of improvement after losing narrowly against Gzira United in their last match.
St. Andrew's were chasing a third consecutive win after wins against Birkirkara and Qormi. On the other hand Senglea were still without a win grabbing just a point from their first seven matches.
Senglea had captain Ferdinando Salvati ruled out through suspension.
The first minutes were rather drab with neither team setting any bushes on fire. With the first goal mouth action arriving on 18 minutes when a close range shot from Walker was saved by Farrugia. Four minutes later Senglea responded through Leighton Grech whose cross found Caseres but his headed effort sailed over the bar.
Eight minutes from the end of the half a good run by Atkinson ended with the Saints forward being anticipated by Farrugia. And in the 43rd minute off a Joseph Farrugia corner Travis Blagrove though well positioned headed over.
Senglea went near on 45 minutes when Tcanturia crossed towards Grech but the latters header was cleared off the line by Blagrove. The Cottonera outfit kept possession with Grech being brought down in the proċess by Martin. From the resultant penalty Romani Tcanturia made not mistake.
On resumption the Saints tried to press more forward in search of an equalizer and on 55 minutes Davis saw his shot just scrape the upright. But it was Senglea who doubled their lead on the hour. A good run by Alexis Volpini ended with his low acute drive finding the corner of the net.
St. Andrew's looked dejected after suffering the second goal but tried to re-organize. On 66 minutes Atkinson was unlucky when his close range low drive made it's way through the face of goal but just missed out.
Sixteen minutes from the end Senglea went near to sealing the issue but Tcanturia's bombshell from just outside the area was saved by Calleja Cremona. Senglea kept piling on the pressure and went near in the 76th minute when a Muscat shot was saved by Calleja Cremona.
Senglea ended the match with ten man when Caseres was given the marching orders following a foul on Karl Pulo.
In the 81st minute St. Andrew's went near to reducing the gap when Magro's shot was partially saved by Farrugia and from the rebound Friggieri blasted well over the bar. On 90 minutes Joseph Farrugia tested Farrugia with a free kick from the edge of the area with the alert Senglea goalkeeper saving.
And in added time St. Andrew's reduced the gap though it was too late when off a Farrugia free kick the ball was met Adrian Borg who headed past a helpless Farrugia.