A penalty miss in the first half proved costly for Msida St Joseph who were edged by a Soares Gomes solitary goal netted on the half hour, denying them at least a draw.

A draw could have been a fairer result as the Saints created enough chances, especially in the first half, which could have enabled them to avoid defeat. But they spurned them all to finish on the losing end.

Msida, in unusual green hooped jerseys, fielded a new foreigner, Zonga Ousseni from Bourkina Faso, taking Nwoke's place in their starting line-up. The African player had a very quiet debut and needs time to settle down in his new environment.

Marsaxlokk, playing better as a collective outfit, stretched their unbeaten run and now move to within striking distance of the leading trio.

The first half was open, flowing and good to watch, but the second was more scrappy and niggly.

The first real raids at goal came from Msida when, after only six minutes, Tagliaferro, yesterday starting the match as the Saints' third foreigner, played a square pass to the advancing Bajada, who shot over.

Msida increased the pressure and looked most menacing towards the quarter hour when a Farrugia scissors kick hit the inner post and was cleared by Gauci as it rebounded into play.

Marsaxlokk, however, took the lead on the half hour with their first genuine attack, albeit in a controversial manner.

Msida's Fenech was alleged by the assistant to have handled the ball. Schembri played a quick free-kick towards Frendo whose low shot was parried by keeper Borg and Wendel Soares Gomes shot in the loose ball from close range among some protests by the Msida players.

The Saints did not lose heart though and kept trying, going close again with a Tagliaferro shot, deflected into a corner.

On 38 minutes Msida were awarded a very controversial penalty when Marsaxlokk's defender Gomes dos Santos appeared to clear the ball with his shoulder but the referee decided to punish the Marsaxlokk defender. However Theuma failed to convert from the spot kick, thumping his rising shot against the crossbar.

Before the break, Marsaxlokk created another good opportunity. Schembri, put clear by Soares Gomes, shot at goal. Keeper Borg parried his effort but Frendo sent the loose ball narrowly wide.

Marsaxlokk looked the better team for the first part of the second half and went close to doubling their lead on a couple of occasions. A Frendo rising shot skimmed the crossbar and, on 50 minutes, taking a well rehearsed free-kick, Mamo flicked the ball towards Soares Gomes who, with his back towards goal, forced keeper Borg into a difficult save with a spectacular overhead kick.

Msida tried to up the tempo as they put in Nwoke for Tagliaferro on 54 minutes but although they enjoyed most of the possession, they hardly created clearcut chances with the Marsaxlokk rearguard closing all gaps.

On 70 minutes Babatunde's cross from the left was dropped by keeper Gauci, who otherwise had a good match, but substitute Lydon Micallef skied the loose ball from an ideal position.

On the stroke of full time, Msida substituted Roderick Bajada, who was applauded by the Msida fans and, probably making his last appearance for the Saints, he reciprocated by throwing his jersey to them.

In added time, Msida nearly snatched a deserved equaliser when an Nwoke effort was blocked dangerously inside the Marsaxlokk area but Fenech's low effort on the loose ball went tantalisingly wide.

Marsaxlokk-Msida SJ 1-0

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Magro, N. Gomes Dos Santos, S. Wellman, K. Sammut (M. Licari), T. Templeman, C. Mamo, C. Frendo (K. Mamo), A. Schembri, W. Soares Gomes (S. Bajada), J. Pace

Msida SJ: O. Borg, D. Theuma, J. Mifsud, S. Grima (L. Micallef), C. Micallef, T. Farrugia, R. Bajada (M. Pullicino), P. Fenech, I. Babatunde, S. Tagliaferro (D. Nwoke), Z. Ousseni

Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs: J. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: L. Sammut

Scorer: W. Soares Gomes

Yellow cards: J. Mifsud, N. Gomes dos Santos, T. Templeman, I. Babatunde, A. Schembri, T. Farrugia, R. Bajada

Player of the match: R. Bajada ( Msida SJ)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada 2. T. Farrugia 3. T. Templeman