Lija and St George’s played their last chances of keeping the fight for the promotion race when they figured in a dull scoreless draw.

This result practically put an end to Lija and the Saints residual hopes of challenging for a place in the Premier League. The match never reached high standards, especially in the second half.

The first half was more interesting with Lija dominating for long stretches, going close on several occasions. In the second period the Saints had a promising start even hitting the crossbar, but both sides faded out completely and the match resulted in one of the worst so far this season.

The Saints had a better start and went close twice inside the first five minutes of the game. A Milutinovic header slightly missed the upright and a Josef Dalli grounder missed the base of the upright by a whisker.

Gradually Lija started to play the better football with their first attempt on 16 minutes when Antoine Sacco tested Galea with a powerful header from a Potezica cross.

On 23 minutes keith Darmanin floated a good cross towards Antoine Sacco whose header went inches wide. Past the half hour Bepe Antignolo brought the best of Thomas Galea who turned the ball into a corner, and from the resultant corner Johann Spiteri’s header missed the target. In Lija’s last attempt of the first half, another header, this time by Andre Scicluna, was again saved by Galea.

On the resumption the Saints had another good start and went close with a Gary Inguanez freekick that skimmed the crossbar. However this was practically the only attempt at goal in the second half.

St. George’s T. Galea, N. Caruana, T. Farrugia, M. Milutinovic, E. Sevasta, E. Amaira, L. Agius, G. Inguanez, M. Barbara (G. Bonello), J. Ruiz, J. Dalli.

Lija A S. Mintoff, J. Spiteri, D. Scerri, A. Sacco (M. Camilleri), M. Potezica (A. Buhagiar), K. Darmanin, K. Formosa, A. Scicluna, A. Dzanovic, B. Antignolo (W. Borg St John), M. Fleri Soler.

Referee Trustan Farrugia Cann