Pieta H-St. George’s 4-5

Pieta H: M. Vella, S. Grech, B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo (R. Xuereb), C. Pulo, E. Camilleri (C. McKay), D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, D. Gatt (E. Vella), R. Galabov

St. George’s: B. Paris, E. Degabriele, R. Conceicaio, L. Mizzi, C. Brincat, L. Grima, N. Abela (J. Dalli), A. Effiong, E. Sevasta, H. Schembri, J. Spiteri

Referee: A. Arciola Asst refs: E. Spiteri, G. Barbara4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: D. Gatt (2), Q. Refalo, A. Effiong, L. Mizzi (2), H. Schembri, D. Camenzuli, L. Grima

Player of the match: Lawrence Mizzi (St. George’s)

TMI Top 3: 1. L. Mizzi, 2. C. Pulo, 3. C. Brincat

St George’s won this rollercoaster, which provided nine goals, breaking a five-match winless streak on the last day, to bow out of the Premier League on a positive note.

The Saints rallied twice as they trailed Pieta, without some regulars, notably Hogg, Deanov and Herrera, at some stage during each half, only to score two goals in the late stages.

Two goals within the first five minutes put Pieta Hotspurs firmly in control. With hardly two minutes on the clock Pulo ran down the left flank, his low cross was well met by Daniel Gatt to steer the ball past keeper Paris, back in the St George’s goal.

Three minutes later, Pulo again provided the cross from the left and on the Saints’ short clearance, the unmarked Quilin Refalo scored with a low drive.

Although lacking football of genuine quality, St George’s soon pulled themselves back into the game. On 22 minutes, Pieta’s reserve keeper Vella failed to put his grip on Mizzi’s corner kick and Alfred Effiong nipped in to nod the ball from close range.

Two minutes later, the Pieta keeper was beaten again by Lawrence Mizzi’s curling direct free-kick from the edge of the penalty area on the right, to draw level.

The Saints looked the more superior side from then on. Effiong went close past the half hour as he lobbed Mizzi’s cross over the onrushing keeper Vella but Galabov cleared off the line. Five minutes from halftime, Pieta’s rearguard was caught cold by a Saints’ fast break. Effiong passed the ball to Mizzi, who outplayed the keeper and allowed Heathcliff Schembri to shoot low into an unattended goal.

Pieta started the second half in lively fashion and after ten minutes they drew level. Keeper Paris palmed out a Sciberras volley and David Camenzuli picked up the clearance to score with a low strike at the far post.

Pieta remained the better side for most of the half but were often hampered by the quality of their passes. On 72 minutes Paris saved Refalo’s shot into a corner but the Saints’ keeper conceded a penalty five minutes later when he pulled down Pulo, who had gone past Conceicaio.

Paris stretched himself to block Kondev’s spot kick but Daniel Gatt was quick to shoot in the rebound.

St George’s restored equilibrium eight minutes from time with a Lawrence Mizzi strike which caught keeper Vella unawares and there was still time for Lee Grima to score the Saints’ fifth goal, courtesy of some sloppy defending, sliding the ball past a defender and keeper to finally give his side victory. Pieta were denied an equaliser in the late stages when Mifsud’s drilling shot, which thumped against the cross bar, deserved a better fate.