Two second half goals gave St Patrick the first win of the season against a de-motivated Vittoriosa side. This important victory lifts St Patrick from the bottom spot for the first time this season.

The Saints played their best match so far, with their shaky defence finally taking shape even though losing Arnold Buttigieg after sixty seconds

The first half was very disappointing with very few scoring chances. St Patrick were rather unlucky to lose two players in the first part of the match. Defender Arnold Buttigieg was carried off in the first minute and Vince Camilleri had to be substituted after 22 minutes.

The Saints had their best chances in the opening stages when Thomas Caruana headed over the bar an inviting Shaun Magro cross from the right. Caruana had another good chance on 22 minutes when he was put through by Magro but his shot from just inside the area was well saved by the Vittoriosa goalkeeper Ivan Cassar.

Vittoriosa were the better team in the second part of the match, with Trevor Thomas heading wide from an ideal position. On 33 minutes Vittoriosa’s best chance fell to Robert Adami’s dipper from the edge of the area, with the Saints goalkeeper David Cassar making a brilliant save to block.

On the resumption of play St Patrick took an immediate lead when Chris Grech shot home from the heart of the penalty area, following a good run on the right by Thomas Caruana.

Vittoriosa failed to recover from this setback as they never tested Cassar in the Saints’ goal, and on 75 minutes St Patrick doubled the score when Thomas Caruana received from Failla, dribbled past a defender before beating Ivan Cassar from an acute angle.