St Andrews were the second First Division team to make it to the second round when they beat St Georges by the odd goal in three in an interesting match in which both teams finished the match with ten players.
St Andrews were the better team and deserved their victory. St Georges had a better start but St Andrews scored two quick goals in the first half and controlled the match against a St Georges side that made a late reaction. In fact St Georges reduced the arrears fifteen minutes from time from the penalty spot, but it was too little too late for St Georges who did not save the match.
St George’s were the better team in the first minutes of the match with Brazilian Ruiz and Dylan Zarb the most dangerous. St Andrews on their part were rather cautious in the first minutes but hit back with two quick goals around the half hour to take a commanding lead till the end of the first half.
St Georges created the first danger with a Dylan Zarb freekick going slightly over the bar. St Georges continued to attack and Dylan Zarb went close again when he dribbled past two defenders before testing Ibrahim from an acute angle.
St Andrews made their first attempts at goal on 24 minutes when their captain Jonathan Briscoe White tried his luck from the edge of the area with the ball going well over the bar. St Andrews forged ahead on 29 minutes when Jack Pallen fired beautifully home from the edge of the area with the ball finishing in the top corner, and with goalkeeper Cilia having no chance to save.
Carried by their enthusiasm St Andrews doubled the score four minutes later with a well taken goal. Jonathan Briscoe White won a ball in midfield, squared with Jack Pallen and managed to beat Cilia who was charging out of position to block the St Andrews captain.
St Georges were now taken off their feet as St Andrews controlled with relative ease, even going near a third goal, again through Jack Pallen.
On the resumption St Georges tried to get back in the game and a Ruiz shot went inches wide. On the other end a Hartvig header skimmed the crossbar following an Amato freekick. On the hour St Georges were dealt a severe blow when striker Dylan Zarb was sent off for dissent.
Two minutes later St Andrews had a glorious chance to score a third when Andrew Amato dribbled past goalkeeper Ryan Cilia, but with an open goal at his mercy he could only shoot against the base of the upright.
On 75 minutes St Georges were back in the game when Ruiz was floored by Jonathan Briscoe White with the referee awarding the penalty and sending off Jonathan Briscoe White who received his second yellow. From the penalty spot Glenn Bonello made no mistake with a low shot.
The match was now more interesting with Hartvig’s header saved by Galea, and St Georges went close with a Ruiz shot that missed the target.
St Georges R. Cilia (T. Galea), L. Stivala (S. Farrugia), T. Farrugia, D. Zahra, E. Sevasta, A. Bonello (L. Bonnet), E. Amaira, G. Bonello, J.L. Ruiz, G. Inguanez, D. Zarb.
St Andrews D. Ibrahim, G. Fenech, P. Briscoe White, J. Bugeja, R. Hartvig, J. Brisco White, K. Galea (N. Vella Petroni), A. Amato, N. Chetcuti, M. Calleja (W. Camilleri), J. Pallen (F. Anakua)
Referee Paul Apap