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

Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, J. Mifsud, M. Pullicino (S. Grima), T. Farrugia (M. Valenzia), C. Sciberras, D. Gatt (S. Tagliaferro), D. Cachia, P. Fenech, L. Micallef, I. Babatunde, D. Nwoke

Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: P. Agius, A. Camilleri 4th official: L. Sammut

Scorer: A. Schembri

Yellow cards: S. Wellman, P. Fenech, M. Licari, C. Sciberras

Red card: M. Licari

Player of the match: Josef Mifsud (Msida SJ)

TMI top three: 1. J. Mifsud 2. A. Schembri 3. N. Dos Santos Gomes

Msida St Joseph’s resilience against high flying Marsaxlokk lasted for 75 minutes. Then Andre Schembri, one of the best players yesterday, scored a goal of inestimable importance for the Soutseasiders as it enabled them to join Sliema Wanderers in second place, two points adrift of leaders Birkirkara, their next league opponents.

Despite the win, Marsaxlokk were only a shadow of the team which beat Sliema the previous week and toiled to get full points against an understrength Msida side, which fought gamely till the end.

Msida’s line-up showed a rift of changes after their heavy defeat against Birkirkara. Keeper Borg, defenders Grima and Clint Micallef started on the bench as the Saints welcomed the return of Fenech and Mifsud from suspension. In the absence of the suspended Theuma, Sciberras played at the back while the Saints were also bereft of the injured Zongo.

Msida opened cautiously, staying composed, but handing the initiative to Marsaxlokk.

After five minutes, Msida keeper Bartolo rushed out on the edge of the area to thwart Schembri, Soares Gomes shot the loose ball towards an empty goal but Mifsud blocked on the line.

On the quarter hour Marsaxlokk’s keeper Gauci was injured in a collision with Babatunde and had to be hospitalised.

Msida gradually started to find rhythm. Babatunde shot low for reserve keeper Debono to save. After a Pace volley went over, Nwoke and Babatunde ripped Marsaxlokk’s defence apart with their pacey run, the latter’s shot going wide.

Marsaxlokk threatened on the half hour when Sammut headed Schembri’s cross from the right over.

For the rest of the half, play degenerated into a scrappy affair, littered with misplaced passes and some niggling fouls.

The pattern of the game did not change much after the interval, as play continued to flash from one box to the other in somewhat scrappy fashion. Babatunde’s and Nwoke’s bright approaches were rare highlights although their finishing left much to be desired. Their best came past the hour when Nwoke went past Wellman and Magro but lofted the ball, with only the keeper to beat.

When the match looked heading for a draw, Marsaxlokk scored the all-important goal on 75 minutes. Andre Schembri raced for a long ball forward by Dos Santos Gomes to beat the onrushing keeper with a clever chip.

Msida were shell-shocked but regained some hopes when Marsaxlokk’s Licari was shown the red card four minutes from time, following a late tackle on substitute Valenzia. However Marsaxlokk stood firm and threatened again in the late stages with Pace’s resourceful run on the left, his shot from near the bye-line hitting the side netting.