Section leaders St Patrick suffered a second defeat against Attard who are sixth in the table with 24 points from 18 games. They also missed a penalty near the end. The Saints had more of the exchanges during the whole game but they failed to find the net.

The first action came from St Patrick when from a long throw-in by Neil Spiteri, Attard keeper Chris Attard saved a header by Kirsten Muscat. At the other end, a Mario Cremona cross found no takers in the Saints area.

Jeremy Vassallo was put through in Attard’s area but he drove out from an ideal position, and Mark Saliba dribbled his way past two Saints defenders and keeper Danny Scicluna partially saved his shot with a defender clearing the ball to safety.

After Shaun Cucciardi was fouled outside the area, Clive Grima served Ryan Gialanze with a short free-kick but he shot slightly over Attard’s crossbar while in an Attard counter attack Mark Vella Bonnici served Matthew Scerri with a perfect through pass but he miscued his shot from inside the area.

The last actions before the break came from St Patrick. The hard-working Neil Spiteri, who was surprisingly substituted near the end, served Alexander Ellul with a through pass but a defender cleared the latter’s cross to a corner.

The first action after the restart also came from St Patrick. From a Spiteri long throw-in the ball was partially cleared with Cucciardi hitting the rebound over the bar, but on 43 minutes Attard opened the score when Matthew Scerri served Mark Saliba with a through ball who after entering the area capitalised on a gross defensive indecision and scored with a grounder.

Encouraged by this goal, Attard created two occasions in succession, a Matthew Fenech shot missed the upright. Then after beating a defender, the same player put Mark Saliba through and the latter’s cross shot was cleared to a corner.

From a Karl Bonavia free-kick a header by Shaun Cucciardi missed Attard’s upright, and from a corner kick by substitute Josmar Albani, Mark Grima hit the ball out after it was partially cleared.

Three minutes before the end, St Patrick were awarded a penalty. Ryan Gialanze served Kirsten Muscat with a through pass in the area and he was tripped by Paul Gafa. Keeper Danny Scicluna ran out of his charge to take the kick but his counter part saved his low and central shot.

Referee: Darren Calleja

Player of the match: Neil Spiteri (St Patrick)

Under 16 Section C : Gudja U 0 vs Sirens 2

Following this win Sirens are on 36 points from 15 games on their way to promotion to Section B next season as Section C is played over one round with 16 teams competing. Gudja are in mid-table with 17 points from 14 games.

Sirens created the first occasion when Glenn Gatt was put through in the area and after dribbling his way past three defenders he was foiled by Gudja keeper Wayne Galea who dived at his feet and grasped the ball.

Gudja’s first action was a through pass by Malcolm Bugeja to Terence Vella but the latter’s cross found no takers in Sirens’ area.

Up to the half-time whistle it was only Sirens who created all the occasions and eventually opened the score.

Alan Xuereb served Kenneth Pisani with a through ball with the latter’s shot being cleared by a defender, it was Xuereb again who put Gatt through and his shot missed the bar by inches.

A cross by Jonathan Galdes was cleared to a corner and a while later a cross by the same player found no takers in Gudja’s area. From a flag-kick taken by Glenn Gatt the Gudja keeper saved a grounder by Jonathan Gauci. Kenneth Pisani then put Glenn Gatt through but his dipper missed the bar by inches.

Three minutes before half-time Sirens deservedly opened the score. Etienne Sant served Jonathan Gauci with a low ball in the area who netted with a low shot, and a minute before the half-time whistle, from a Jonathan Galdes cross a header by Glenn Gatt missed the upright by inches.

During the second period there were only six actions worthy of note. Sirens doubled the score in the 45th minute. Shaun Grech put Kenneth Pisani through, the latter crossed to Glenn Gatt who made no mistake from close range.

From a long throw-in by Robert Portelli, Malcolm Zammit had his shot blocked by a Sirens defender in Gudja’s only attack.

Glenn Gatt then pounced on a defensive indecision and after advancing he missed the upright with his shot.

Referee: William Debattista

Player of the match: Jonathan Galdes (Sirens)