St George’s 1

Marsa 1

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

Marsa: J. Debono, G. Bencini, E. Yanchev, N. Fasinelli, K. Scerri, J. Achokwu, V. Bellia (B. Zammit), D. Cucciardi (W. Chircop), J.P. Zammit, G. Martin, I. Umoru (A. Scerri).

Referee: A. Arciola, Ass. Referees - M. Debono, K. Frendo Cumbo, 4th official - M. Borg

Scorers: A. Effiong, K. Scerri

YelLow cards: L. Grima, R. Conceicao, C. Brincat,

Player of the match: Larry Lagana (St. George's)

TMI Best three: 1. L. Lagana 2. G. Martin 3. R. Conceicao

A late header by Kevin Scerri gave Marsa their third draw of the season and ended their lean spell of nine consecutive defeats. The point gained by Edmond Lufi's eleven will certainly not improve Marsa's position at the bottom of the table.

However this point earned by the Red Blues dashes the Saints' hopes of keeping in touch with Pieta Hotspurs. In fact Pieta were the happiest side following yesterday's result, having a two-point lead with a game in hand over St George's.

The match was rather quiet for long stretches with St George's always showing the better stuff, but unable to reap the fruit of their superiority. However the Saints' worries seemed to vanish completely when they took the lead at the start of the second half.

St George's, however, failed to apply the killer touch when they failed to score the second one even though having some good scoring chances. Marsa had other ideas, with Gilbert Martin having a very good match, and with Fasinelli and Scerri producing a generous effort. In the end, rather surprisingly, Marsa stunned their opponents with the equaliser to earn a deserved point.

The Saints did the early running keeping constant pressure on the Marsa defence. But the Red Blues were ably guided at the back by Graham Bencini and Yanchev, and the Saints' forwards Lawrence Mizzi and Alfred Effiong rarely had a glimpse of the ball.

Marsa tried to surprise their opponents with quick breaks by Gilbert Martin and Umoru, but the latter was very erratic, giving the polished Conceicao a relatively easy evening.

The Brazilian stood out for the Saints with his good positional play and was also very effective when St George's ventured forward.

Ironically the first dangerous shot at goal came from hard working Marsa midfielder Achokwu, but his shot was well blocked by Paris. Mid-way through the first half Marsa took a good grip on the midfield sector with the Saints' showing signs of weakness.

On the half hour a Kevin Scerri grounder slightly missed the base of the upright. Diego Cucciardi tested Paris direct from a freekick.

Four minutes from the break a harmless looking freekick by Conceicao was not cleared by the Marsa defence with Lawrence Mizzi coming face to face with the Marsa custodian. However Debono effected a great save denying the Saints a certain goal.

At the start of the second half St George's took the lead when Alfred Effiong received a long ball from midfield, beat Yanchev on the run and slotted the ball behind goalkeeper Debono.

Six minutes later St George's should have wrapped up the match when a Johann Spiteri header slammed against the crossbar and from the rebound Larry Lagana's point blank shot was somehow saved by Debono.

Marsa's expected comeback failed to materialise as St George' continued to show the better ideas with Effiong going close again on 62 minutes. The Saints were now dominant with Lagana hitting the crossbar and Lawrence Mizzi missing an easy chance in front of goal after a good move with Effiong. Five minutes from time Marsa went near with a good shot by Kevin Scerri that was saved by Paris, and from the resultant corner taken by Bencini, the same Kevin Scerri headed home from close range.