Marsaxlokk-Pieta H. 1-0

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, L. Dimech, C. Magro, M. Licari, G. Sciberras, D. Bogdanovic, S. Bajada, K. Sammut, J. Pace (R. Da Silva), H. Doda

Pieta H: A. Hogg, M. Deanov (G. Goodlip), C. Pulo, Q. Refalo, C. Sammut, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri, D. Kokavessis (S. Grech)

Referee: A. Arciola, Ass. Referees: A. Camilleri, J. Rapa, 4th official: A. M. Sant

Scorers: K. Sammut

Yellow cards: E. Herrera, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, J. Pace, K. Sammut

Player of the match: David Camenzuli (Pieta H)

TMI best three: 1. D. Camenzuli, 2. C. Sammut, 3. G. Sciberras

A stout defensive display by Pieta, highlighted by the towering presence of David Camenzuli, restricted leaders Marsaxlokk to a narrow win, courtesy of a solitary goal from a set piece, headed by Kevin Sammut after only ten minutes play.

The first versus last in the standings was supposed to be a cruise for Marsaxlokk. However it turned out to be a difficult and hard fought victory for the leaders, who hardly played like the title contenders they have been portrayed so far, and also contrived to miss a penalty, with only Sammut’s goal separating both teams at the end.

This win however put Marsaxlokk four points clear at the top of the table and leaves Pieta anchored in bottom place, still winless after 11 matches.

The leaders had to do without the services of the suspended Wellman and Frendo, with Licari and Bajada starting the match and Rueben Debono preferred to Gauci in goal.

Pieta also made some changes to their side, after conceding 11 goals in their last two outings. Spiteri and Debono were dropped and Herrera and Kokavessis given starts.

Marsaxlokk began like an express train, hurtling forward en masse and had already won a couple of corners by the time Refalo tested the Marsaxlokk keeper with a powerful, lbeit central shot.

Ten minutes had elapsed when Marsaxlokk broke the deadlock. Bajada’s corner, conceded by Pieta after some hesitant defending, was headed in by Kevin Sammut.

Many might have expected a goal deluge but that did not materialise, courtesy of some bold comeback by the young Hotspurs.

In fact at times, Pieta’s slick passing and flowing play, combined with superlative defending, betrayed the gloom that has lately settled in their side. Midway through the half, Refalo’s opening to Kokavessis on the right, ended with the latter’s tame effort.

Marsaxlokk, showing signs of complacency, struggled to knit some good passes together, even because they were not allowed any comfort on the ball by their opponents. A Bajada dangerous free-kick, flicked on by Bogdanovic, was cleared into a corner by Camenzuli on the half hour and two minutes later Doda ran down the left flank and passed the ball to Bajada who shot over.

After Pieta failed to capitalise on two central free-kicks by Deanov and Kondev, Pieta defender Camilleri handled a clearance inside the area, five minutes from the break. But keeper Hogg plunged himself to the right to save Bogdanovic’s penalty kick and keep his side into the match.

Marsaxlokk kept enjoying the bulk of possession in the second period, but failed to turn that into chances in the face of a disciplined Pieta rearguard, fighting for every ball thrown towards them. A Bogdanovic overhead kick went off target and Doda’s rasping grounder also went wide, also missing the target with a long range drive in the late stages.

Pieta showed up with Deanov’s sailing free-kick, headed into a corner by Magro, and Pulo concluded Deanov’s cross from the right wide on 69 minutes.

But they still trailed to Sammut’s goal at the end and finished with nothing to show for all their plucky efforts.