Dingli Swallows grabbed their first points of the season beating Msida SJ with two second half goals. Msida ended the game with nine players with Neil Curmi and Rodney Caruana sent off on 54 and 81 minutes respectively.

The first red card surely had its toll on an Msida side that was playing a gallant game against superior opposition. Msida also missed a sitter before suffering the first goal, and this was surely the beginning of their end.

For Dingli the inclusion of Jureilly Chirino at the start of the second was instrumental, with this player breaking the deadlock for the Swallows.

Dingli Swallows had more of the ball in the first half, but Msida defended well and kept their opponents at bay, even creating some chances in their breaks.

Msida missed a sitter on 13 minutes when Andrea Grech headed over the bar from an ideal position following a good run on the left by Andrew Formosa.

Dingli went close on 25 minutes when Kevin Borg’s short range drive destined for the back of the net was blocked by defender Matthew Borda. On 35 minutes Chris Azzopardi and Clayton Caruana had a combination with the latter’s shot on the turn slightly missing the target.

Minutes later Caruana passed to the unmarked Kevin Borg whose grounder from an angled position was well saved by Jeremy Alden. Just before the break, captain Adrian Farrugia tried his luck from a distance but his effort was saved by Jeffrey Farrugia.

Dingli made two substitutions at the start of the second period and were more aggressive in the opening minutes even having a Chirino goal disallowed. On 54 minutes Msida were reduced to ten players, when Curmi apparently elbowed Chirino. Dingli were now doing that extra effort as some of Msida’s players lost their tempers.

Kurt Formosa was denied by a splendid Alden dive and on 71 minutes Msida missed an incredible scoring opportunity when Damien Debono miskicked the ball with only Farrugia to beat. Msida paid the price as Dingli took the lead a minute later.

Adrian Farrugia failed to head a long ball from the Dingli defence and substitute Chirino fired home from just inside the area. Dingli went close with a good Kevin Borg move and a Chris Azzopardi header that went inches high.

Nine minutes from time Msida received another setback when Rodney Caruana received another booking and was sent off. Dingli were now all over their opponents and goalkeeper Alden saved his side with two great saves off a Rodrick Spiteri header and a Sapiano close range shot.

Msida desperately tried to save the match in the dying minutes with their goalkeeper Alden going in attack, and in one of these sorties Dingli made a fast break and Chris Azzopardi slotted the ball in an empty net to seal the match.

Dingli S J. Farrugia, S. Zampa, S. Tellus, R. Spiteri, R. Vella (J. Chirino), K. Formosa, C. Caruana (J. Sapiano), E. Farrugia (R. Sammut), K. Borg, R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi.

Msida SJ J. Alden, D. Debono (M. Grech), M.Borda, R. Caruana, J. D’Amato, A. Grech (L. Cassar), A. Formosa (K. Grech), P. Sakchai, A. Farrugia, C. Cioffi, N. Curmi.

Referee Fiodor Zammit