Vittoriosa Stars scored a last gasp winner against Marsa to register a more than deserved victory, that lifts them to a healthy mid-table position.

The match was a one way traffic affair with Vittoriosa always on the attack, but with the Marsa defence holding till the final minutes thanks mainly to Keith Brincat’s superb match in the Marsa goal.

However Keith Darmanin scored the all important winner on 90 minutes when Vittoriosa were playing with a man less.

After a slow start, Vittoriosa squeezed their opponents in their own half as the Redblues failed to produce decent attacking moves with Warren Chircop completely isolated between the Vittoriosa defenders marshalled by veteran Ivan Zammit.

On 13 minutes Trevor Thomas received a good ball from defence and caught the marsa defence napping, dribbled past goalkeeper Brincat but failed to conclude as he was caught up by the Marsa defenders.

Six minutes later the same Trevor Thomas first timed over the bar, a good cross from the left by Adami. The Stars continued to pile up the pressure but Marsa custodian Brincat was in splendid form.

On 35 minutes Brincat saved brilliantly a close range shot on the turn by promising Leighton Grech. A minute later Brincat dived to his left to deny an Adami effort, and from the following move with the Stars still in attack, Brincat saved again a Privitelli shot from the edge of the area.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first one with Vittoriosa always denied by the splendid Brincat. On 57 minutes he denied Adami when he blocked with outstretched foot. On the hour Trevor Thomas missed a sitter from an ideal position, and finally on 70 minutes Vittoriosa took a deserved lead.

An Ivan Zammit dangerous freekick could only be partially saved by goalkeeper Brincat and captain Privitelli slotted home from close range. The Stars?joy was shortlived as Marsa were back on level terms in their first real danger. Shaun Cutajar was brilliant on the left before passing towards Achukwu who shot low into the corner of the net.

Brincat again came to his side’s rescue minutes later when he somehow blocked a close range header by Darmanin. Ten minutes from time David Gauci was given the marching orders after a nasty tackle on Chircop.

But Vittoriosa did not give up and scored the winner a minute from time when Keith Darmanin beat Brincat with a precise lob from well outside the area. In injury time Marsa were also reduced to ten man when Kevin Cassar was sent off.