Mosta 4

Dingli S 2

Mosta bounced back after suffering an early goal to claim a precious victory that puts them in joint second with Mqabba, seven points behind run away leaders Balzan.

Mosta fully deserved their victory against a determined and well organized Dingli side. Dingli took their opponents by surprise, even taking an eleventh minute lead. But Mosta turned the tide in their favour in the space of six minutes, and never looked back for an important victory. Mosta’s next match next week against Melita could be the decisive one.

Dingli started like a house on fire as they ripped the Mosta defence apart with some swift moves. In fact Mosta could not settle down in the opening minutes and were at the mercy of their opponents.

It was no surprise that Dingli took the lead on 11 minutes. Kevin Borg easily made his way inside the area only to be tripped by Kenneth Spiteri for an obvious penalty. From the penalty spot Leontiev Konda sent Debono the wrong way.

However Mosta made an immediate reaction and two minutes later they were back on level terms. Kenneth Spiteri surged forward and crossed towards Adrian Borg, who dribbled past a Dingli defender before shooting home with a precise grounder.

Mosta were now all over their opponents as they attacked incessantly. On 18 minutes the Dingli defenders managed to clear the danger blocking a Ryan Deguara close range effort, and from the resultant corner Simon Shead slotted the ball home from close range.

Mosta continued to dominate the rest of the first period as Dingli lost all their initial flair, but goal scoring chances were very few.

Dingli again had a good start in the second half and Chirino went close when he lobbed the ball over Debono, only to find Mark Brincat clearing away the danger. On 65 minutes Chirino went close again with his effort going inches high.

On 74 minutes Mosta sealed the issue when striker Simon Shead nipped in to head home from close range a good cross by Adrian Borg. Six minutes from time Mosta scored a fourth when substitute Victor Osobu powered his way inside the box to score with a low shot.

Two minutes from time Dingli pulled one back when Prince Will Okachi finished in style with the ball hitting the post before finishing at the back of the net.

Easy for Lija with second half burst

Lija A 4

Msida SJ 0

As expected Lija Athletic easily beat bottom of the table Msida, thanks to a second half burst when they scored three goals in the space of three minutes.

The match never reached high standards with Lija always on the attack and with Msida trying to do their best to avoid a heavy defeat. The bottom of the table side resisted till the 74th minute when Lija scoring three goals in quick succession to put the issue beyond doubt.

Lija dominated the first half and had many scoring chances especially in the opening minutes. Admir Dzanovic and Wayne Borg St John went close in the opening five minutes and an Andre Scicluna shot hit the side netting.

Msida had their best chance through Miguel Grech who raced forward, but his shot left much to be desired and was easily blocked by the Lija goalkeeper. On 20 minutes Lija created a very good scoring opportunity but Beppe Antignolo blasted the ball high from an ideal position.

In the final stages of the first half, the Msida goalkeeper Daniel Borda saved his side denying Wayne Borg St John from close range. But just before the half time whistle Lija broke the deadlock when Wayne Borg St John headed home from close range a good cross from the right by Scicluna.

Lija continued to pile the pressure in the second half but found the going hard in front of goal. A Spiteri cross shot finished slightly over the bar and Dzanovic missed an easy chance in front of goal on 66 minutes.

Lija doubled the score on 74 minutes when when Admir Dazanovic made amends finishing in style an Antignolo cross. Two minutes later Lija made it three when substitute Antoine Sacco showed his scoring instincts heading home another Antignolo cross.

Sixty seconds later Lija completed their demolitionwhen Lija’s best player Beppe Antignolo was floored inside the box by Refalo and from the resultant penalty substitute Johan Spiteri closed te match with the fourth and final goal.