Mosta 1

Pieta H. 1

Mosta’s promotion hopes were yesterday dealt a severe if not a decisive blow, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Pieta Hotspurs. The result leaves Mosta in second place together with Mqabba and Melita, but the latter two still have two games to play against Mosta’s one game.

Mosta were still under shock after their defeat against Melita, and they never came to grips with their opponents who played their hearts out. Mosta had a promising start even forging ahead on 12 minutes, but Pieta quickly restored the Mtch and they dominated the first half.

In the second half Mosta were the better team and kept their opponents under constant pressure, but Mosta were very erratic in their distribution and in front of goal in the few chances that came their way.

Victor Osobu was introduced only midway through the second half as Mosta never gave the impression they could win this match.

Mosta went all out for an early goal but Pieta created the first danger with a Zach Muscat shot going inches wide. On ten minutes Pieta goalkeeper Kersten Vella saved brilliantly a close range header by Adrian Borg.

On 12 minutes Mosta took the lead when Gilbert Martin was floored inside the area by Christian Grech and from the resultant penalty Mark Briggs made no mistake. Pieta went immediately on the attack with Bandeira failing to connect to a cross by Cleaven Cassar

On 16 minutes Pieta were back on level terms when Zach Muscat headed home an Ouwu freekick. Pieta now grew in confidence and Mosta were panicky at the back.

Bandeira tested Jonathan Debono and on 33 minutes the Mosta goalkeeper Debono saved his side when he charged out of position to block Bandeira.

In the second half Mosta dominated, and held constant territorial superiority. But they only were menacing in the last twenty minutes of the game. Their best chance came in Simon Shead’s path, but the striker failed to score in front of goal, completely miskicking the ball.

On 75 minutes Victor Osobu passed towards Gilbert Martin who was denied by a brilliant

Kersten Vella save. The same Vella was again outstanding saving a Mark Briggs scorcher from the edge of the area.

Mosta pushed desperately forward in the dying minutes but Pieta resisted to give Mosta a bitter disappointment.

St Andrew’s beat Msida with first half goals

St Andrew’s 2

Msida SJ 1

St Andrew’s notched their fifth win of the season beating bottom of the table side Msida SJ with first half goals. The Saints fully deserved their victory as they dominated for long stretches against a side that had to play for 35 minutes with a man less.

Msida took the lead from the penalty spot, but the Saints turned the tide in their favour, and could have won by a bigger margin, hitting the post twice and also missing a penalty.

Jon Paul Calleja was surely the best player on the field of play, while credit goes to Msida goalkeeper Daniel Borda for some first class saves.

The Saints dominated the first half and went close to an early lead when Msida goalkeeper Borda brilliantly saved an Anakua close range header. The Msida custodian was again called in action on 16 minutes when he denied Morgan Onourah.

On 20 minutes almost against the run of play, Msida forged ahead. Dylan Vassallo was tripped by Ronnie Hartvig and from the penalty spot Karl Saliba fired in the top corner of the net.

Three minutes later St Andrew’s were back on level terms when Jon Paul Calleja passed towards Morgan Onourah who shot home from close range. On 32 minutes the Saints took the lead when Jon Paul Calleja crossed from the left, his cross was missed by Morgan Onourah, but the ball hit defender Lyden Micallef, with the ball finishing at the back of the net.

Just before the break Msida goalkeeper Borda was again called in action saving a close range header from Faisal Anakua, and Jon Paul Calleja was unlucky when his low shot hit the base of the upright.

On 55 minutes Msida were reduced to ten men when Lydon Micallef was shown a second yellow and had to leave the field of play. St Andrew’s increased the pressure and an Andrew Amato shot slightly missed the crossbar.

On 75 minutes a William Camilleri short range effort slammed against the upright and two minutes later St Andrew’s were awarded a penalty when Jon Paul Calleja was floored by Matthew Borda. But Ronnie Hartvig’s central shot from the penalty spot was blocked by Daniel Borda.