CHRIS CASSAR

Tarxien Rainbows opened up the promotion race by beating league leaders Mosta thanks to an early goal scored by Simon Shead. This win puts Tarxien just two points behind the leaders, joint second with Qormi. With three minutes remaining the promotion race is wide open with the match between Mosta and Qormi growing in importance.

The match gave its best in the first half as in the second period, which was dominated by Mosta, the match was continuously interrupted by the referee’s whistle. Essien Mbong was surely the best man on the field of play, together with defenders ramon Schembri and Manuel Caruana. Mosta thus suffered the first defeat after an impressive run of nine consecutive matches without a defeat – a run that lifted them to the top of the table.

Tarxien had an impressive start taking the lead after only six minutes when Simon Shead scored from close range a good Angus Buhagiar cross from the right. Mosta could have levelled the score on 18 minutes when an Elton Vella shot slammed against the upright and from the rebound Carlos Camenzuli hit the same part of the upright.

Tarxien were well disposed in midfield with Essien Mbong and Omar Grech playing a blinder. On 30 minutes Kalenga had a good run on the left flank but his shot was easy prey for goalkeeper Cini. Three minutes later Elton Vella passed to Mario Abela who entered inside the area but was blocked in time by goalkeeper Cini.

In their last attempt of the first half Tarxien went close to double the score when an Angus Buhagiar cross shot deceived Debonon but the ball slightly missed the base of the upright. Just before the half time whistle Carlos Camenzuli was brought down on the edge of the area but the referee turned down Mosta’s penalty appeals

The second half started with a Massimo Grima freekick towards Camenzuli whose header sailed over the bar. Mosta dominated the second fourty five minutes but were rarely dangerous as the Tarxien defenders fought for every ball.

Tempers flared in the dying minutes and the referee Adrian Casha had a difficult task to control the match as both sets of players lost their heads in many scuffles in all parts of the field. Mosta coach Molzahn was the first one to receive the marching orders, followed by Tarxien substitute Matthew Borg on 87 minutes and Mosta’s Steve Borg in stoppage time.