Mosta and St George’s, two sides battling for a promotion spot, settled for a draw yesterday afternoon. Mosta deserved something better from this match as they dominated for long stretches, and were unlucky when they hit the post on three instances.

The Saints played a very cautious match, mainly in defence, and took full advantage of one of their rare scoring chances, even if the Saints’ goal came from a Mosta defensive blunder.

The result leaves both sides in the hunt, with Mosta now equal on points with second placed Mqabba. Mosta and Mqabba now have a two-point lead over suprising Melita and three over the same St George’s.

The match had a very slow start but Mosta started to dominate half way through the first half, taking a deserved lead before the interval. On the resumption St George’s had their best patch crowned by Zarb’s equalizer. After this shock Mosta again took full control of the match as they forced their opponents inside their own area, but failed to score a second decisive goal.

On 13 minutes Mosta had their first attempt in a long series of efforts when Nikola Bogdanovic tested Thomas Galea who saved in style. Minutes later a William Camenzuli freekick was not cleared by the St. George’s defenders, but Bogdanovic blasted well over the bar.

Mark Briggs had his go at goal on 24 minutes with his shot going slightly over the bar. The Saints first timid reaction came on the half hour with Milutinovic heading high a Zarb freekick.

On 35 minutes Mark Briggs passed towards Simon Shead whose first timer was well saved by Thomas Galea. On 40 minutes Mosta took a deserved lead when Mark Briggs scored a gem of a goal direct from a freekick.

Mosta continued to attack and Briggs went close again with another well taken freekick, this time saved by Thomas Galea. In stoppage time Osobu passed towards Gilbert Martin whose rising shot smashed against the crossbar.

On the resumption St George’s immediately obtained the equalizer when Dylan Zarb nipped in between defender Spiteri and goalkeeper Debono, and tapped the ball home. The Saints had a good patch and Zarb went close again direct from a freekick.

Mosta took some time to recover but were back in full forcing mid-way through the second half with Nathan Caruana almost committing an own goal in an attempt to clear.

From the resultant corner a William Camenzuli grounder hit the base of the upright.

Fifteen minutes from time Ryan Deguara’s cross shot beat Galea, but the ball hit the far post.

In the dying minutes a Simon Shead close range shot was blocked by Galea, who was on the alert again saving a Lee Grima effort. In stoppage time St George’s were reduced to ten players when Daniel Zahra was shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Gilbert Martin.

St. George’s T. Galea, A. Bonello (E. Amaira), D. Zammit, M. Milutinovic, N. Caruana (R. Sell), L. Agius, D. Zarb, B. Fenech, M. Barbara, L.J. Ruiz, G. Bonello (J. Dalli).

Mosta J. Debono, K. Farrugia, V. Osobu (R. Deguara), M. Briggs, G. Martin, A. Cini, A. Borg, N. Bogdanovic, K. Spiteri, W. Camenzuli (L. Grima), S. Shead.

Referee Clayton Pisani.