SILVIO VELLA

Marsaxlokk were back in the groove yesterday after their drubbing by Valletta, beating Pieta Hotspurs by a first half goal scored from a penalty by Kevin Sammut.

The match was rather eventful, not much for the quality of football produced, but for the two sending offs and the injury to Pieta’s player in the second half, which could have had more serious consequences.

As expected, Marsaxlokk’s starting line-up showed a rift of changes from the previous match. Frendo and Gomes were relegated to the bench while the injured Camenzuli was not included in the squad. Gauci played instead of Debono in goal. Frendo made a late appearance as a substitute in the second half but was again substituted by Licari after about 12 minutes, for some reason only the player and coach Talbot might know.

Pieta, buoyed by their previous win against Sliema Wanderers, played with a makeshift defence bereft of the injured Galabov and Ryan Camilleri missing from their side with Bernard Sciberras playing in central defence instead. Carl Sammut was also missing.A cagey start provided early half chances at both ends.

Sammut put Da Silva clear on the right, shooting against the side netting. On the other end Pulo arrived fractionally late on Kondev’s cross from the right.

Although play remained mostly scrappy lacking cohesion, Pieta created the best scoring opportunities during the first half hour.

On 32 minutes, Goodlip sent his firm header over the bar, following Deanov’s cross.

Hardly a minute later, the goal came on the other end. Marsaxlokk were awarded a penalty when Kevin Sammut advanced inside the area and fell under the keeper’s tackle close to the byeline. Sammut himself scored from the spot kick to give the Southseasiders the lead by halftime. Marsaxlokk missed another opportunity when Pace headed Sammut’s cross over the bar.

Play did not improve much in the second half. The main highlight was the young Francesco Sulas’ unlucky debut on 55 minutes. Less than a minute after going in for Goodlip, he was seriously injured by Conceicao’s kung-fu tackle in midfield and there was concern all round as he lay motionless on the ground. Referee Zammit’s timely intervention, preventing the player from swallowing his tongue, deserves credit, before the medics aided him and he was carried to hospital in an ambulance.

Conceicao was eventually sent and play resumed after seven minutes of stoppage time.

Pieta probed for an equalizer after that, trying to exploit their numerical superiority, but they only troubled the Marsaxlokk defence rarely and far between.

Marsaxlokk keeper’s handling outside the area went unnoticed on 70 minutes and four minutes later a Kondev effort was blocked by Gauci.

Pieta also had a player sent off ten minutes from time – their midfielder Kondev for a second bookable offence – and Marsaxlokk continued to defend their slim lead with relative ease till the very end.

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Pieta H: M. Vella, P. Aquilina, P. Deliminkov, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi, Q. Refalo, C. Pulo (M. Vella), S. Kondev, G. Goodlip (F. Sulas) (C. Cassar), D. Mifsud

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, R. Conceicao, S. Wellman, G. Sciberras, P. Pullicino (C. Mamo), K. Sammut, M. Barbara (C. Frendo) (M. Licari), J. Pace, T. Templeman, A. Da Silva, C. Magro

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: J. Camilleri, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Casha

Scorer: K. Sammut (pen)

Yellow cards: R. Gauci, S. Kondev, C. Pulo, G. Goodlip, D. Mifsud

Red cards: R. Conceicao, S. Kondev

Player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. K. Sammut 2. J. Pace 3. S. Ciscaldi