Marsaxlokk were held to a one-all draw by other newly promoted side Vittoriosa Stars, who keep their revival alive with six points from their last four unbeaten matches. Although still anchored at the bottom of the standings on goal difference, they are now on equal points with Hibernians.

Vittoriosa’s work ethics, especially in the second half earned them a merited point as they managed to tame the fury of Effiong, Kokavessis and Deanov to good effect and hit on the breaks.

For all their superior experience, Marsaxlokk were unable to add to their early lead and as they failed to come to terms with their opponents’ persistence and Santos Silva’s pace, they were caught up by the Brazilian’s clinical finish with a quarter of an hour remaining.

They thus missed the chance of going all alone in second place.

Both sides started the match in lively fashion. Silva’s shot was saved by Marsaxlokk keeper Gauci and on the other end Kokavessis shot over Effiong’s pass.

On 10 minutes a Deanov corner from the left was missed by keeper Agius. Mamo headed towards Effiong who headed over.

Vittoriosa went close past the quarter hour but Ewurum arrived slightly disorientated on Chetcuti’s cross and his header missed the target.

On 20 minutes, Maraxlokk made the breakthrough. Trevor Templeman latched on Deanov’s square pass and beat keeper Agius with a low drive at the right post.

Marsaxlokk continued to dominate and towards the half hour Deanov played the ball to Effiong, whose shot on the turn forced keeper Agius to turn the ball over the bar into a corner.

Kokavessis’ rising shot from the left went narrowly off target.

Vittoriosa showed up in the last ten minutes of the half. Silva’s grounder on a Grech low pass was blocked by the Marsaxlokk custodian.

And on 38 minutes, Grech should have done better on Silva’s perfect cross from the right. Unattended inside the area, he headed tamely wide and the chance went begging.

Vittoriosa were allowed to pull themselves into the match as Marsaxlokk took a more laid back approach and rarely looked capable of scoring their second goal, except when Deanov played a deft one-two with Effiong but was blocked by keeper Agius who rushed off his line to smother the danger.

On the other end, keeper Gauci was kept busy, turning Silva’s low shot into a corner on the hour.

Silva’s pacy runs nearly always took him past his opponents as he remained a constant menace to the Marsaxlokk defence.

On 74 minutes, Vittoriosa levelled matters when Ewurum played the ball to Jorge Santos Silva who left Licari hooked to the ground and beat keeper Gauci with a rasping low drive.

The draw was more that the Stars deserved for all their work rate.

Marsaxlokk’s late efforts to win the game proved futile. In added time, Effiong’s shot from the byeline was blocked by Pace. The loose ball fell to substitute Spiteri who headed tamely in Agius’ safe hands.

Vittoriosa S S. Agius, K. Sammut, S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, C. Campagnoli, D. Cachia, K. Mifsud, J. Santos Silva, A. Ewurum, S. Wellman, L. Grech (J. Xerri)

Coach W. Muscat

Marsaxlokk R. Gauci, C. Mamo, G.Sciberras, M. Deanov, P. Pullicino, M. Licari, A. Effiong, R. Galabov, T. Templeman, D. Kokavessis (A. Spiteri), R. Guerreiro

Coach P. Curmi

Referee A. Arciola

Asst.refs A. Camilleri, W. Debattista

4th official F. Zammit

Scorers T. Templeman 20, J. Santos Silva 74

Yellow cards L. Grech, D. Kokavessis, P. Pullicino, R. Guerreiro, A. Spiteri, G. Sciberras

Player of the match J. Santos Silva (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top 3 1. J. Santos Silva 2. M. Deanov 3. R. Galabov