St George’s-Msida SJ 1-1

Second placed Msida St Joseph were made to work hard to earn a draw against resurging opponents from the lower ranks of the table in the shape of the ever improving St George's.

St George's again proved that they are no longer easy stuff to break down. As was the case against leaders Marsaxlokk the previous week, they offered stiff resistance, proving tough opponents, full of purpose and invention.

Their attack has been transformed since the arrival of Alfred Effiong, who, upon his second appearance yesterday, frustrated the Msida defence time and again with his powerful runs and dribbles.

Despite the difference in points between the two teams, St George's traded equal punches with their opponents in the first half and even managed to take a goal advantage by halftime.

Msida, without Babatunde in their starting line-up, failed to impose their authority on the game as St George's did not allow them any comfort on the ball.

To Msida fell the first chance as Mifsud's header was footed out by Grima on the goal line.

St George's immediate reaction came towards the quarter hour. Farrugia's clearance fell to Mizzi who lobbed the ball towards the top corner but Msida's keeper Borg held it out with an elastic save.

St George's kept up the pressure, looking dangerous with the swift runs of Effiong, as the Msida defenders struggled to contain him. The Nigerian's header on 23 minutes, on Conceicao's cross, was saved by Borg and three minutes later Effiong headed in Spiteri's cross to give St George's a deserved lead.

The goal sparked a quick response by Msida as Nwoke's effort was held out by keeper Gatt.

St George's kept fighting gamely, showing caution but no fear. Shortly before the break they could have even doubled their lead as Effiong resisited the challenge of three opponents inside the Msida area to shoot past Borg, only for Cachia to save on the goal line. Then Grima fluffed an easy chance, missing off target, after Effiong ran havoc inside the Msida area with his footwork.

Msida's Mifsud was injured in a head collision with his keeper and was substituted at halftime.

Msida started the second half in a more determined mood and within seconds of the restart they carved two near misses - Zongo's cross for Nwoke was slightly too high and then Fenech did worst, lofting the ball when unmarked in front of goal.

As Msida began to find pace and momentum, St George's looked menacing whenever they funnelled long balls towards Effiong.

Towards the hour, Schembri served Mizzi whose diagonal rising shot hit the underside of the bar and rebounded in play. On the other end, Nwoke shot wastefully off target after going through the St George's defence.

The inclusion of Babatunde on the hour, galvanised Msida as, together with Zongo and Farrugia, they pushed forward relentlessly in support of Nwoke.

Msida's equaliser was in the air and came on 68 minutes, not before St George's were again denied their second goal by the woodwork though. Mizzi thumped a direct free-kick from the edge of the area against the bar.

Having survived the scare, Nwoke headed the ball down towards Ibrahim Babatunde who beat keeper Gatt with a low drive.

In the late stages both teams could have won full points. Zongo's shot on a Babatunde deep cross was well saved by Gatt and then Effiong ran past two opponents, nearly lost his balance when faced by keeper Borg but failed to roll the ball towards the unmarked Mizzi as Sciriha cleared the danger.

St George's: A. Gatt, J. Spiteri, C. Brincat, L. Grima, L. Lagana (E. Degabriele), E. Sevasta, L. Mizzi, R. Conceicao, A. Effiong, B. Fenech, H. Schembri

Msida SJ: O. Borg, P. Sciriha, R. Baldacchino (I. Babatunde), T. Farrugia, J. Mifsud (S. Vella), P. Fenech, D. Cachia, P. Pullicino, A. Farrugia (L. Micallef), D. Nwoke, O. Zongo

Referee: M. Borg Asst.refs: J. Rapa, P. Agius 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: A. Effiong, I. Babatunde

Yellow cards: O. Zongo, B. Fenech, R. Baldacchino, S. Vella, H. Schembri, T. Farrugia

Player of the match: Alfred Effiong (St George's)

TMI top three: 1. A. Effiong 2. O. Borg 3. R. Conceicao