t Patrick beat Mosta 1-0 to obtain a double over Mosta who were under the guidance of Vince Carbonaro after Molzahn’s dismissal last week. However Carbonaro who was suspended and could not be present on the bench, has many problems to solve.

Yesterday’s performance was very opaque to say the least, as they were never in the game and failed to recover after going behind just before the break. Much more was expected from the Blues especially in the second half but their attackers were no where to be seen as the Saints controlled with relative ease.

The win puts St Patrick back in the hunt, even though they are still four points behind Pieta who were surprisingly beaten on Satruday. Without setting any houses on fire St Patrick were still good enough to deserve the three point earned.

Mosta had their first chance on four minutes when Antonio Saliba headed slightly wide following a good Elton Vella cross. Calabretta had a couple of good runs on the left flank but his crosses fell easy prey to the Saints’ defenders.

Slowly but surely, St Patrick started to come to grips with their opponents as they took control of the midfield sector. On 19 minutes Gary Inguanez lobbed over the bar after Mosta goalkeeper Debono had mistimed his sortie.

On 33 minutes a Roderick Briffa header from a Gary Inguanez corner slightly missed the target. Four minutes later a Thomas Caruana freeekick missed the target. A minute from the break St Patrick took the lead. Peter Anizoba crossed from the right towards Beppe Muscat who shot low into the net from close range.

The second half was a real bore as Mosta tried to obtain the equaliser but never tested the St Patrick goalkeeper apart from a Steve Borg header near the end of the match.

San Gwann 3

Rabat A 3

San Gwann kept their four point lead over Rabat at the lower part of the table after a spectacular six-goal thriller. The draw result automatically relegates Senglea Athletics to Division Two next season.

The result was a fair one even though San Gwann had the better chances and the Rabat goalkeeper kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves. Rabat now live to fiht another day as they are still four points behind San Gwann with three matches remaining.

Rabat had a dream start when after only 56 seconds, Adrian Mifsud beat the offside trap to lob the ball past a helpless Justin Spiteri. San Gwann’s reaction was an immediate one as they were back on level terms six minutes later. A Francica cross was completely missed by defender Bezzina and goalkeeper James Borg, and for Antoine Zahra it was an easy task planting the ball home from two meters.

Two minutes later Rabat should have regained the lead but Adrian Mifsud hesitated in front of goal and his shot was well saved by Spiteri. On nine minutes an Aboulezz shot from the edge of the area missed the target.

San Gwann were now playing better as the Rabat defence started to panic. On 15 minutes Rabat goalkeeper Borg saved a header from Steve Pisani following a Zahra freekick, and the same goalkeeper effected the best save when he blocked a point blank header by Mario Caruana.

However the Rabat goalkeeper could do nothing on 20 minutes when Aboulezz’s dipper from 30 meters hit the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net. Rabat went close to the equaliser on 26 minutes with a dangerous Adam Smeir header and on 33 minutes Antoine Zahra’s shot sailed over the bar.

Two minutes from the break San Gwann scored their third goal when Sergio Hili scored a beauty direct from a freekick.

Rabat pulled one back on the resumption when Adam Smeir crossed towards the onrushing Adrian Mifsud who hammered the ball home. A minute later San Gwann almost re-established their two-goal lead when an Aboulezz shot beat Borg, but Chris Schembri was on hand to clear the ball away from the goal line.

On 56 minutes San gwann were dangerous again through Aboulezz who was well served by Hili, but the Rabat goalkeeper blocked with a desperate sortie. On 68 minutes Adam Smeir beat a defender and tested Spiteri with a precise grounder and on 70 minutes Rabat levelled the score. Adam Smeir crossed from the right and substitute Glenn Magri scored with a low shot.

Five minutes later San Gwann were unlucky not to regain the lead when a Steve Pisani shot hit the base of the upright and from the rebound the Rabat goalkeeper denied Alan Borg with a great save.

The final minutes were very exciting with San Gwann more on the offensive but the Rabat defence held on to this precious point.