Tarxien R. FC 2
St. Andrew's FC 1
Tarxien R. FC: A. Cassar, T. Veronese (L. Grech 8') , J. Wemmer, J. Cruz, D. Zerafa, M. Spiteri, M. Paolucci (A. Nilsson 74'), G. Aquilina (A. Agius 90'), E. Arab SIraj, A. De Barros, R. Faria
St. Andrew's FC: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, K. McFarlane (J. Walker 82'), R. Martin, A. Friggieri (K. Magro 56'), K. Reid, A. Borg, A. Brown, M. Davis, D. Jackson, M. Woo Ling (J.Farrugia 61')
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Asst refs: Jurgen Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
4th official: Ishmael Barbara
Scorers: M. Paolucci 25', R. Faria 48', M. Davis (p) 53'
Yellow cards: S. Arab, K. Mcfarlane, K. Magro, M.Paolucci, M.Spiteri
Player of the match: Ricardo Silva Faria (Tarxien R.)
TMI Top 3: 1. R. Faria 2. M. Paolucci 3. A. Borg
Attendance: 325
Tarxien Rainbows registered a precious win by beating St. Andrews thus leapfrogging the Sainta and moving to eighth in the BOV Premier League table. The match played at the Hibs Stadium was keenly disputed with the Rainbows emerging victorious by the odd goal in three.
Both teams went out for the maximum points being a direct battle against relegation. Prior to this match one point separated the two teams with the only recent win for the Saints being gained on the table after a decision by the Protests Board awarded them a win over Floriana.
Otherwise they lost two and drew the other two matches, including last week's draw with Mosta. On the other hand Tarxien lost three out of the last five matches. In their last outing they held Gżira in a 1-1 when a last gasp goal produced the surprise of the week.
Thomas Veronese, Juan Cruz Gill and Siraj Arab Eddin made their debut for Tarxien whilst Daren Falzon was suspended.
Aidan Friggieri and Degran Jackson started instead of Kurt Magro and the suspended Kevaughn Atkinson, these being the two changes made by the Saints coach Johann Scicluna.
Tarxien defeated St. Andrews 5-1 in the first round.
The first minutes were rather drab with but on 21 minutes, Ricardo Faria made his way into the box but his close-range shot was saved by an alert Calleja Cremona.
But it was them who took the lead on 24 minutes when off a Ricardinho cross from the left flank, the ball was met by Michele Paolucci who slotted the ball past Calleja Cremona.
Tarxien continued to control the proceedings and till the end of the first half were never in any danger to squandering their lead.
Two minute had elapsed from the start of the second period and Tarxien doubled their lead. A rising shot by Ricardo Silva Faria hit the upright before hitting the back of the net.
However, the Saints were back into it in the 53rd minute when Zerafa brought down Reid in the box. The referee ordered the maximum penalty and from the resultant kick Martin Davis converted.
The Saints tried to mount a reaction but struggled to break a stubborn Rainbows defence. And in the 73rd minute Reid tried a shot from the distance only for his effort to end wide.
In the final minutes St. Andrew's threw everything on the attack and even made some tactical changes in order to try and save the game.
But it was Tarxien who could have put the issue beyond doubt eleven minutes from the end when an Alex Nilsson volley was blocked by Calleja Cremona.
The final whistle was met with joy by the Rainbows players and supporters who after grabbing an unexpected point againt Gżira last week, went one better this week. Maximum points from a direct clash. The sun seems to shine again for them after some dull moments early on.