St Andrew’s 2
Mosta 3
Mosta came from behind to beat a spirited St Andrew’s side 3-2 in a thrilling encounter yesterday, to end the first round on a high as they consolidated their position amongst the top teams.
The Blues had a very shaky start suffering two goals in the opening fourteen minutes. The Saints dominated the early stages and after only five minutes they took the lead through a great Nicky Vella Petroni goal who fired home from a distance.
Mosta were rather unsettled and suffered a second one on 14 minutes when a Ronnie Hartvig majestic freekick finished at the back of the net.
The Saints controlled with relative ease as Mosta could not put things right in attack. But on 36 minutes Gilbert Martin was floored inside the area when about to shoot and from the resultant penalty Mark Briggs made no mistake.
This was the turning point for Mosta as they obtained the equalizer four minutes later when Noikola Bogdanovic headed home a well taken Camenzuli corner kick. Just before the break Mosta went close with Simon Shead blocked by a desperate sortie by goalkeeper Carandente.
The second half was less intense with Mosta holding the upper hand for long stretches. However St Andrew’s had a very good chance through Nicky Vella Petroni who dribbled past a Mosta defender but his shot was somehow blocked by the Mosta custodian.
On 65 minutes Mosta had a Kane Farrugia effort blocked on the goal line by Ronnie Hartvig and two minutes later Mosta scored what proved to be the winner when William Camenzuli came surging forward and hammered home a Simon Shead header.
The Saints were drained from ideas and the Blues controlled with relative ease to grab an important victory.
St. Andrew’s - F. Carandente; J. Briscoe White (E. Grima), J. Bugeja, R. Hartvig, A. Camilleri Kamsky (M. Desira Buttigieg), M. Valenzia, W. Camilleri (M. Onurah), N. Chetcuti, F. Alhakua, N. Vella Petroni, K. Coleiro
Mosta - J. Debono; K. Farrugia, M. Briggs, G. Martin (P. Vassallo), A. Borg, N. Bogdanovic, B. Agius, K. Spiteri, W. Camenzuli, S. Shead (M. Brincat), A. Firas (R. Deguara)
Referee - Malcolm Spiteri