St Andrews          1
Mosta                  1

St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, K.Mcfarlane (L. Sciberras 70), R. Martin, K. Atkinson, K. Reid, K. Magro, A. Borg, A. Brown, M. Davis (A. Friggieri 77), M. Woo Ling 

Mosta: A. Vella, G. Cuomo, K. Frendo (T. Farrugia 84), M. Sammartino, R. Morisco, M. Gomez (D. Bonnici 46), M. Aoudou, S. Bonnici, Z. Brincat, J. Cisotti, R. Romeu (D. Xuereb 46)

Referee: I. Barbara

Asst refs: L. Portelli, T. Debono

4^th official: A. Johnson

Scorers: M. Davis 27

Yellow cards: K. Atkinson 3, R. Martin 47, K. Mcfarlane 61

Player of the match: M. Davis

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Davis, 2. J. Cisotti, 3. K. Magro

St Andrews and Mosta yesterday shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

St Andrews had taken the lead in the first half. It was a gift goal from Mosta as Romau and Sammartino went into each other’s way allowing the nippy Saints striker to advance unhindered to score easily and put his side in the lead.

But Mosta were not to be denied even if they left it late to equalise in added time through Rafael Morisco.

The result means that the Saints remain in 8^th place on 17 points, while Mosta remain in 11^th place on 12 points.

It was mostly a balanced match and only that gift goal separated the two teams until Mosta deservedly equalised at the death.

Neither side appeared to have control of the proceedings during the first half as exchanges were more or less shared though Mosta might have had slightly more possession.

St Andrews looked more solid at the back, but were found wanting up front when they had the chances to shoot at goal. In fact, they scored thanks to a great misunderstanding in the Mosta defence with Davis making the most of a lapse by Romau and Sammartino.

Mosta also lacked punch up front as despite their territorial superiority, they never tested goalie Calleja Cremona, between the St Andrews posts.

In the second half, Mosta were more adventurous but St Andrews were still strong at the back where Kurt Magro, Alexander Satariano and Adrian Borg were outstanding.

However, the Saints had to bow their heads at the end as Mosta finally equalised through a fine shot from Morisco.

The first notable action arrived on 13 minutes, when Kemar Keid bustled his way past two Mosta defenders, but his low and dangerous cross found no takers in front of goal.

St Andrews opened the scoring on the 27^th minute when Romau and Sammartino went into each other’s way, making a mess of what should have been an easy clearance, allowing Martin Davis free access to goal. The latter went round the goalie before planting the ball into an empty net.

In the 49^th minute, Mosta had a good chance to level matters when from a Sammartino cross substitute Dexter Xuereb had a free header, but the ball went over the bar.

At the other end, goalie Vella had to rush out of his charge to dive at Satariano’s feet to avoid an awkward situation.

On the 67^th minute, the Saints threatened through a Kemar Reid cross which did not find Atkinson in the right place.

Moments later, at the other end, a fine run by Xuereb ended with a cross which went to Aoudou, but the latter hesitated and the ball was cleared.

Mosta equalised in added time. There was a short clearance by the  Saints defence and Morisco hit a fine shot from the edge of the area that finished at the back of the net.