Tarxien Rainbows returned to winning ways when they beat Lija Athletics with the odd goal in three. The best of the match was in the first half, where goals apart, both sides produced the best football.

For Lija Athletics this second consecutive defeat puts more pressure on the team still in search of the first victory.

Alan Tabone, Shead and Brazilian Da Silva were Tarxien’s best, with Ancic and Paul Camilleri the most promising for the losers.

For the third consecutive time, Lija had a disastrous start suffering two goals in the first ten minutes. In fact after barely 90 seconds Tarxien were in front when Simon Shead headed beautifully in a well taken corner by Alan Tabone.

Tarxien were in full command with Kurt Coleiro missing an easy header in front of goal. But on ten minutes Tarxien doubled the score with a beautiful lob by Da Silva, following a good through ball by Shead.

After these setbacks Lija scored on their first attempt on 16 minutes when a Paul Camilleri shot was deflected by defender Kurt Zammit into his own net. Lija were now playing better and went close to the equaliser with a John Camilleri effort, and with a good move which was finished off by Ancic.

In the final minutes Tarxien regained their initial superiority, going near on several occasions and even hitting the crossbar with a perfectly executed freekick by Alan Tabone.

In the second half Tarxien controlled with relative ease, the feeble Lija offensive. Tarxien’s defence never passed through anxious moments and the Rainbows had good opportunities to increment the score.

Simon Shead had a good shot on the turn going slightly over the bar, and Coleiro brought the best out of Mercieca with an angled grounder.

Five minutes from time Lija central defender Giles Lanzon was sent off following his second book-able offence.