ST ANDREWS 0

MOSTA 0

St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, J. Van De Lennoitte, M. Miranda Gomez, K. Reid, D. Jackson, J. Farrugia, M. Davis (R. Martin), M. Gauci, J. Walker, T. Azian

Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira, M. Sammartino, T. Veronese, K. Magro, D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, J. Ekani, D. Xuereb, G.Trovade (J. Tanti),  E. Agyemeng (Z. Brincat)

Referee: J. Utulu

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: P. Farrugia

Yellow cards: M. Gomez, K. Magro, J. Farrugia, Z. Brincat, J. Ekani

Player of the match: D. Mansi (Mosta)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Mansi  2. M. Davis  3. T. Veronese

Attendance: 74

A point apiece from a goalless draw helped both St Andrews and Mosta to prolong their unbetaen run and come up with a drop of encouragement on a wet evening at the Centenary Stadium.

Mosta, who have collected eight points from their last five league matches, stay firmly in a safe ninth place while their opponents move two points above Naxxar Lions and further away from the danger zone.

Both sides had drawn their previous match against more quoted opponents. St Andrews’ coach Michael Woods made only one change after their draw with Gzira United as Degran Jackson returned instead of Ricardo Martin. The Saints were protecting a three-match unbeaten run in the Premier League as they continue their fight for survival.

Following a goalless draw against Hibernians, Mosta yesterday introduced a new Italian midfielder Giordano Trovade as Maric was omitted from their squad.

Played under an incessant downpour and a on a wet surface, watched by three scores of spectators, it was not the type of game that will live long in the memory.

It was a meek and spineless display from both sides.

The Saints had slightly better sight of goal in the opening stages, going close with headers from Van De Lenoitte and Azian as Mosta were at pains in defending corners.

St Andrews pushed forward from midfield through Farrugia and Gomez, with Davis, Reid and Azian making movements without the ball. Mosta however, with Farrugia, Mansi, Ekani and Veronese at the back, were solid and refused to get swamped by the Saints’ build-ups.

Mosta hardly ever got going forward though, with Ferreira and Agyemeng starved for service and completely subdued in attack.

Towards the hour, Ferreira ran past two opponents down the right and anticipated the onrushing keeper Calleja Cremona, sending a low cross towards the middle that found nobody to connect to.

Then, from a Veronese corner, Farrugia shot off target.

Towards the end, Farrugia and Gauci came up with feeble efforts from from edge of the area, which Mosta keeper Vella dealt capably with.

But otherwise, both goalkeepers remained mostly inoperative.

And by the time the lights went off at Ta’ Qali, the match had long been forgotten.