Melita’s run towards the top positions was halted yesterday by a spirited St Andrew’s display. To be fair the match gave its best in the last part of the second half as both sets had some very chances to break the deadlock, but a draw was a fair result.

This draw leaves Melita among the front runners, even though they lost two precious points yesterday.

The match never reached high levelof play with both sides very erratic especially in defence. But although the defences appeared to be shaky, the attackers rarely if ever were on the alert to take advantage of these.

The Saints had some attempts in the early stages with a Nicky Vella Petroni shot going well over the bar. The same Vella Petroni had a good run on the right flank but his good cross was not met by Patrick Briscoe White.

Melita had some good attempts through Luke Micallef who was one of his best for his side in the first half. Micallef had two attempts going well over the bar.

On 42 minutes St Andrew’s took the lead. A long ball from the Saints’ defence, split the Melita rearguard in two and the ball came towards captain Jonathan Briscoe White who slotted the ball home past Karl Zahra.

Their joy was short lived however as Melita obtained the equalizer in stoppage time. Luke Micallef had another good run on the right flank and his cross was met by Julian Galea whose brilliant header finished in the low corner of the net.

In the second half melita had a slight edge over their opponents, but yet again goal scoring chances were very few. The best chance came mid-way through the second half when melita’s Matthew Borg pounced on a Neil Chetcuti defensive lapse, made his way inside the area but his shot was blocked by a desperate Carandente sortie.

Ten minutes from time Luke Micallef missed a sitter all alone in front of goal, with Carandente again saving his side with another block at Luke Micallef’s feet.

Two minutes from time St Andrew’s missed a glorious chance when Kurt Coleiro blasted well over the bar from an ideal position after a Michael Grima pass. In stoppage time Melita goalkeeper Karl Zahra saved his side with a great save from a close range effort by Kurt Coleiro.

In stoppage time Melita were reduced to ten players when Nigel Rizzo received a second booking, and in the Saints’ last ditch efforts, Melita goalkeeper once again came to his side’s rescue with another good save off a Michael Grima shot from the edge of the area.

Melita K. Zahra, R. Alhinio, L. Martinelli, G. Gribbon, M. Cachia (K. Micallef), S. Galea (N. Rizzo), M. Borg, J. Galea, E. San Pedro, L. Micallef, M. Fenech (M. Batel).

St. Andrew’s F. Carandente, N. Chetcuti, A. Camilleri Kamsky, R. Hartvig, J. Bugeja, M. Valenzia, J. Briscoe White, F. Anakua (W. Camilleri), N. Vella Petroni (M. Grima), P. Briscoe White (D. McAvoy), K. Coleiro.

Referee Malcolm Spiteri