Dingli almost there

Dingli S. 2

Mqabba 1

Holders Dingli Swallows moved closer to qualifying to the semi-final stages of the competition when they beat Mqabba with the odd goal in three.

Dingli thus moved to the top of the group and are firm favourites to qualify.

Dingli Swallows were the better team in the first half, as they were constantly on the offensive but they rarely tested Kris Calleja in the Mqabba goal. However Dingli scored two goals in the space of five minutes to take a firm grip.

After half an hour of sterile pressure Dingli Swallows forged ahead on 32 minutes when Anywanna forced his way inside the penalty area and crossed towards the unmarked Jeremy Agius who easily planted the ball home.

Mqabba tried to make an immediate reaction with Michael Borg Oliver's freekick going slightly over the bar. On 37 minutes Dingli doubled the score when Christian Muscat's lob from 30 metres deceived Calleja for a great goal.

Six minutes later Dingli could have scored again when Etienne Farrugia crossed from the left towards Jeremy Agius, whose body feint deceived the Mqabba rearguard but Anywanna did the impossible, shooting wide with only Calleja to beat.

Mqabba were more determined and aggressive in the second half and Michael Borg Olivier created havoc but his shot was brilliantly saved by Farrugia.

On 71 minutes Mqabba won a disputed penalty when Claudio Calleja was pulled inside the area, and from the penalty spot Paul Chimezie made no mistake to put Mqabba back on track.

Dingli were now under pressure as Mqabba pushed everything forward. Calleja tested Farrugia from a freekick but at the other end Dingli were close with a Jeremy Agius drive going inches high.

Mosta 1

Senglea A. 1

Mosta kept their top spot in the group after a hard earned draw against Senglea Athletics yesterday.

Both teams remain in contention for the two semi-final berths, with St. George's and St. Patrick still in the reckoning in this interesting group.

Mosta forged ahead on 20 minutes when Ryan Deguara's scorcher hit the post before finishing at the back of the net. Six minutes later Justin Felice was unmarked in the Mosta penalty area but his shot was well saved by the Mosta goalkeeper Debono.

On 33 minutes Senglea were back on level terms when Leeroy Bonnet scored with a low shot following a Farrugia freekick.

Five minutes from the break a Ryan Deguara corner was headed over the bar by Adrian Borg. Two minutes later Justin Felice fired slightly wide.

At the start of the second period, Senglea missed a golden opportunity when Mosta defender Pio Vassallo failed to clear and Leeroy Bonnet shot incredibly over the bar. On the hour, Mosta hit back with a Ryan Deguara run on the right flank with his cross headed over the bar by Ewurun.

On 66 minutes Senglea missed another sitter when Joseph Farrugia failed to score following a corner-kick action, with an open goal at his mercy. Sixty seconds later Mosta had a fast break with Calabretta blocked by goalkeeper Attard and from the rebound Ryan Deguara's lob missed the target.

In the dying minutes Senglea's Justin Felice tested Debono with a low shot and Senglea's keeper Attard blocked a Steve Borg freekick.