Melita outsmart Żabbar SP to maintain healthy buffer over bottom sides

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK 1

Gambarte 13 pen.

MELITA 3

Andre 39; Mohnani 63; Debattista 67 pen.

ŻABBAR SP

M. Grech, J. Micallef, F. Wallace, B. Gambarte (68 M.A.Ferreira), S. Ilic, D. Tavares (77 Z. Grech), S. Jovancic, L. Agius, V. De Paiva (77 M. Azzopardi), J. Mendonca, D. Jovicic.

MELITA

G. Mizzi, Aldair, JP. Attard, K. Mohnani (85 D. Xuereb), A. Penha, M. Debattista (74 N. Cutajar), A. Borg Olivier, M. Van de Font Bovenkamp, J. Yepez, K. Bondin, H. Motta

Referee:  Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Van de Font Bovenkamp, Ilic, Mendonca, Agius.

Melita recovered from a slow start to power past Żabbar St Patrick and open a commanding advantage over the bottom sides in the division.

Melita and Żabbar, the two promoted sides in the Premier League clashed against each other for three important points ahead their participation in the Bottom Six.

It was a hugely disappointing day for Żabbar who started so brightly in the first half and but failed to take their opportunities and in the end suffered another defeat.

St Patrick were first to get on the scoresheet after just 13 minutes.

It was a dreadful start for Melita as Marc Van de Font Bovenkamp conceded a penalty for a foul on Stefan Ilic. Referee Fyodor Zammit pointed to the spot and Ariel Gambarte sent goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi the wrong way.

Boosted by the goal, Żabbar continued to dominate proceedings with Ilic’s pace and trickery constantly troubling the Melita defence.

Earlier on, Felix Wallace’s brilliant pass was weighted perfectly through the defence but Mizzi did well to deny the lively IIic when the nippy striker found himself face to face with the goalkeeper.

On 25 minutes, Strahinja Jovancic forced another smart save from Mizzi.

Melita’s first-half display did not merit a goal, but they found the net when Andrè Penha da Costa burst into the box in a rare attack from the Amateurs and outsprinted the onrushing Matthew Grech before depositing the ball into an empty net.

Patrick once again dominated possession at the beginning of the second period as Gambarte and Diogo Tavares went close for Żabbar.

On 55 minutes, Gambarte was hypnotised by the goalkeeper who leapt to collect the ball. Then Tavares hit a teasing diagonal shot which flashed across the face of goal.

But Melita responded in style and went in front when Karl Mohnani dragged a brilliant finish into Grech’s far corner.

And Clive Mizzi’s troops extended their lead with a devastating attack on 67 minutes. Andre burst again into the box and was floored by Grech. From the ensuing spot kick, Matthew Debattista buried the ball behind the goalkeeper.

Andre, who had been instrumental in the earlier goals, then graced his opponents’ goal when he hit a low drive straight at Grech.