St Patrick 4

Msida 0

St Patrick had e very easy task to beat bottom-placed Msida who only have one point from 18 games while St Patrick are now in fourth position on 30 points from 18 games.

Msida created the first action as Bjorn Brincat dribbled past an opponent and St Patrick keeper Daniel Farrugia saved his effort from outside the area.

The reaction by St Patrick was very immediate as they had four actions. Sean Pace Briffa freed Ryan Calleja on the left flank who after crossing the ball in the area found no takers.

Waylon Grech then pounced on a loose ball in Msida’s half and Msida keeper Kurstin Galea saved his rising shot. Steve Micallef served Calleja with a through ball outside the area and Galea saved his shot while Matthew Galea floated a high ball in the area from a free kick and Galea saved the ball from an overhead kick by Calleja.

In the 15th minute, St Patrick opened the score after a choral move between three players. Shawn Cesare released Calleja on the left flank who then served Micallef in the area who netted with a low shot.

After Pace Briffa was fouled on the left flank, Galea saved from the free kick by Matthew Galea, and in another action by Msida, Jack Abela served Shawn Xuereb on the right flank who after entering the area, saw Farrugia denying him by turning the ball to a corner.

St Patrick doubled the score on the half hour when Steve Micallef released Pace Briffa on the left flank who scored with a diagonal shot to the far post.

In the last action before the break Shawn Xuereb was fouled outside the area and the ball was cleared with difficulty by the Saints defenders after the free kick by Liam Cutajar. 

Two minutes after the restart, the score became 3-0 as Steve Micallef served Calleja in the area who scored with a low shot.

Two minutes later St Patrick scored their fourth goal when Steve Micallef was fouled on the right flank and after the ball was partly cleared from the free kick by Galea, Calleja was on hand to shoot the ball in the net from the rebound.

In a rare Msida action, Scott Stewart was fouled outside the area and Farrugia was forced to dive and save the ball from the strong free kick by Cutajar.

The last action before the end was created by St Patrick as substitute Jurgen Fenech served Calleja in the area and Galea denied him with a diving save in two attempts.

Referee: Elvio De Gabriele

Player of the match: Steve Micallef (St Patrick)