Disciplined defence is neither fashionable nor desirable in terms of entertaining football, but Vittoriosa Stars almost made it pay yesterday against stronger opponents Tarxien Rainbows.

Not for the first time this season, Vittoriosa have already proved that their resilience belies their table position. They were about to pull a surprising result, holding on to a goalless stalemate until ten minutes from the end when they were undone by Everton Pereira’s beautifully struck goal, leaving them pointless at the end.

In all fairness, Tarxien deserved the win, which now puts them again alone in second place, for the considerable number of chances created. But they were frustrated time and again by a string of superb saves from the Vittoriosa keeper Simon Agius.

Vittoriosa left the unfit Carlos Campagnoli on the bench and had Kevin Mifsud serving his second of a two-match ban.

Tarxien, rotating their foreigners, this time named Cristiano Rodriguez among their substitutes and Gianluca Calabretta was preferred to Mark Tanti in the starting line-up.

In an eventful first half, both keepers were kept extremely busy with goal attempts at both ends.

Vittoriosa keeper Agius saved an Anonam shot and then turned into a corner Calabretta’s rasping shot when put through by Vella Critien.

As the Rainbows started to mount some sustained pressure towards the half hour, Calabretta headed wide and another Costa shot was saved by Agius.

On 35 minutes, on a Vella Critien pass, Bueno’s close range shot was turned into a corner by the Vittoriosa keeper.

A minute later Tarxien went closest to breaking the deadlock. Bueno’s grounder was palmed out by keeper Agius in Costa’s feet and the latter hit the foot of the post.

Although mostly encamped inside the own half, Vittoriosa also had their fair of chances during the first 45 minutes.

On 22 minutes Xerri’s shot was tipped over the bar by keeper Cassar into a corner. Past the half hour, the Tarxien custodian had to stretch himself to hold out Grech’s powerful shot.

Tarxien remained the more potent in attack after the restart and within the hour they had already carved out three scoring opportunities. On a Calabretta corner, Anonam’s header was cleared off the line by defender Camilleri.

Then Anonam’s shot took a deflection and as the ball fell dangerously into Bueno’s path, keeper Agius rushed off his line to block.

Tarxien again looked menacing with an Everton free kick which fell to Costa but was foiled again by keeper Agius.

Tarxien slowed down their rhythm after that and raked balls inside the Vittoriosa area for their tall forwards to exploit. But the Stars’ two towering central defenders Wellman and Pace weathered the pressure.

On 76 minutes, Costa shot his free kick through the wall, but Agius would not be surprised.

But just as Tarxien seemed to have run out of ideas, they won a corner on 79 minutes. Kicked by Tanti, the ball was cleared and Everton Pereira picked his spot from outside the are and beat keeper Agius with a delicate curling shot at the top corner.

The goal sapped all of Vittoriosa’s brittle confidence. Tarxien again went near with three minutes remaining. Substitute Mintoff thumped his shot against the upright, the ball rebounded to Bueno, who was blocked by the keeper.

In the dying minutes,Silva ran inside the Tarxien area with a solo effort but Sadowski halted his progression, clearing the ball into a corner.

Vittoriosa S S. Agius, A. Ewurum (C. Micallef), J. Camilleri, S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, L. Edison, J. Xerri (J. Spiteri), D. Cachia, J. Silva, S. Wellman, L.Grech

Coach W. Muscat

Tarxien R D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, E. Pereira, G. Calabretta (M. Tanti), R. Costa (R. Mintoff), S. Pacheco (C. Rodriguez), D. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam, L. Galea

Coach N. Coleiro

Referee E. Azzopardi

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official P. Caruana

Scorers E. Pereira 79

Yellow cards E. Pereira, S. Wellman, J. Chetcuti, A. Ewurum

Player of the match S. Agius (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top 3 1. S. Agius 2. D. Bueno 3. L. Vella Critien