Mqabba beat St Patrick by the odd goal in three yesterday to move to the sole leadership at the end of the first round. The result is a just reward for Mqabba who showed the better ideas and were more menacing than their opponents.

The match was very interesting as the Saints also had their good moments, but were less effective in attack than their opponents. Mqabba were more dangerous and created more scoring opportunities but found in the Saints goalkeeper Cassar a difficult obstacle to surmount.

Mqabba took the lead on ten minutes when John Paul Muscat passed to Martin Anastasi who shot low into the net. Mqabba searched for more goals and minutes later John Paul Muscat’s effort was well saved by Cassar.

On 15 minutes St Patrick had their first attempt at goal through a Cassar freekick that was well saved by goalkeeper Calleja. The match continued to be very interesting with frequent goal-mouth actions. On the 20th minute Cassar made another brilliant save following an Anastasi corner and a Camoin dipper. Eight minutes later a Gordon Failla effort sailed over the bar. Six minutes from time Mqabba went close again with another John Paul Muscat move and a pass towards Anastasi who shot slightly wide. On the stroke of half time St Patrick equalised. Gordon Failla’s freekick was beautifully headed in by Kenneth Abela.

On 56 minutes Mqabba regained the lead when a Camoin scorcher from more than 20 metres beat Cassar for a splendid goal.

St Patrick’s only reaction was from a Kenneth Abela lob that almost deceived goalkeeper Calleja, whilst Camoin tried his luck again with a low shot direct from a freekick, but Cassar was on the alert and saved well.

St Patrick dominated the last minutes of the match pressing their opponents in their own penalty area in search of the equaliser.

However Mqabba were always dangerous in their breaks and the Saints’ goalkeeper Cassar did very well in denying Muscat and Chibueze from certain goals.

St Patrick finished the match with ten players when central defender Matthew Fleri Soler was shown the second yellow card for a nasty foul on Chibueze.