Melita 3

Dingli S 0

Following this win against bottom-placed Dingli, Melita occupy second place on 22 points from 10 games together with San Gwann and Tarxien, the latter having a game in hand.

Melita enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges during both periods showing more method in their approaches and kept Dingli keeper Noel Micallef very busy with some good saves and timely sorties.

The onslaught commenced as early as the third minute. Jeremy Spiteri Bailey served Jeremy Mousu in the area and Micallef foiled him with a timely sortie.

In the fifth minute the woodwork denied Melita as Paul Muscat served Mousu in the area and from the latter’s shot the ball thumped the bar with Micallef beaten and the ball was cleared, Micallef then saved on the same player after he was put through in the area by Cain Abela.

Isaac Curmi was then fouled on the right flank and after Neil Bonello’s free kick, Pierre Muscat headed out from inside the area. Micallef then neutralised a cross-shot in two attempts by Paul Muscat.

In Dingli’s first attack in the 31st minute they nearly broke the deadlock when Triston Galea served Kyle Gatt with a cross from the left and the ball missed the bar by inches from his close-range header.

Four minutes after the restart Melita opened the score when substitute Malcolm Gatt Baldacchino served substitute Antoine Attard in the area and he shot past Micallef.

Melita kept pressing and in the 51st minute Gatt Baldacchino committed the miss-of-the-match when he skied the ball from two metres with only Micallef to beat, after a perfect cross from Cain Abela.

In the 66th minute Melita doubled the score when Curmi served Attard with a through ball who netted with a hard grounder from outside the area.

In a rare attack by Dingli, Kirsten Pule’ was fouled outside the area, the free kick by Robert Ciantar created a little havoc in Melita’s area but somehow the ball was cleared away to safety.

Just before the final whistle the score became 3-0. Michael Cutajar was tripped by an opponent in the area and the same player made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri 

Player of the match: Jeremy Spiteri Bailey (Melita)