Marsa and St George’s gained their first point of the season in a rather scrappy match that failed to produce a goal.

The result is a fair one, even though St George’s could have snatched the three points at stake with some luck near the end.

Marsa were the better team in the first 30 minutes but the Saints showed the better ideas for the rest of the match, but found in Ivan Casha a hard nut to crack.

Marsa did the early running with Mbong, Bellia and Fasinelli in the limelight. Paris mistimed his sortie but Bellia failed to hit the target from the rebound.

Mbong had two efforts going over the bar, with St George’s creating the first danger midway through the frist half with a powerful Hammad run on the right whose cross was first timed beautifully by Do Nascimento, with the ball going inches wide.

On the other end Kevin Scerri headed slightly wide after a good cross from ex-player Ewurun. St George’s dominated the last part of the first half, with the Marsa defence on the alert.

Lee Grima won a good ball in midfield and passed to Schembri whose good effort on the turn was well saved by Casha. Just before the break the same Casha had to save a dangerous cross-shot by the promising Hammad.

The second half was played on the same pattern of the last part of the first half with St George’s showing the better ideas and with Marsa having to withstand the pressure.

However scoring chances were very scarce, with St George’s missing a great chance on 70 minutes when Do Nascimento did all the spade work, but Hammad failed to connect in front of goal. Three minutes later Ivan Casha saved his side when he denied Schembri from point blank.

Ivan Casha came again to his side’s rescue when he dived to block a scorcher from Do Nascimento.

St George’s: B. Paris, A. Bonello, C. Brincat, E. Sevasta, R. Conceicao, J. Spiteri, L. Grima, H. Schembri, S. Sciberras, E. Do Nascimento, S. Hammad.

Marsa: I. Casha, E. Yanchev, S. Cutajar, G. Bencini, N. Fasinelli (G. Martin), E. Mbong, J.P. Zammit, A. Scerri (W. Chircop), K. Scerri, A. Ewurun, V. Bellia.

Referee: A. Azzopardi, Ass. referees: P. Agius, E. Spiteri, 4th official: A. Arciola

Yellow cards: A. Bonello, R. Conceicao, C. Brincat, J.P. Zammit,

Player of the match: Suleiman Hammad (St George’s)

TMI top 3: 1. S. Hammad 2. I. Casha 3. E. Mbonga

* * *

Today's matches

5pm Marsaxlokk-Pieta H.

7pm Msida SJ-Birkirkara