Draw keeps both sides near the bottom

Tarxien Rainbows and Mosta took a point apiece yesterday in a direct relegation clash at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Priso Doding shot Mosta ahead in the first half, but substitute Alex Nilsson obtained a deserved equaliser for Mosta in the second period.

The draw keeps both sides near the bottom end of the standings with Tarxien moving on to the 9 point mark and Mosta on to the 7 point mark.

It was a fair result as neither team dominated each other in a match in which both goalkeepers had a somewhat quiet afternoon.

The first half was boring with actions few and far between.

Tarxien dictated play at the start and seemed to have an edge especially in midfield, but after Mosta took the lead, it was Ivan Zammit’s side which created the few chances which were noted in the first half.

The Rainbows tried to retaliate, but Mosta’s defence was well organised and goalie Bartolo was never tested seriously.

In the second half, play improved a little, but both goalies were rarely tested.

Both teams were strong at the back with both defences showing themselves superior to their respective front lines on most occasions.

Mosta threatened first on the 4th minute when Kemar David Reid went through on the left, but his angled shot passed across goal.

Tarxien’s reply arrived in the 10th minute. From a Frances cross, Zerafa headed forward, but Baker’s effort went well over the bar.

Soon after, Ponce followed a long clearance from the defence, entered the area and unleashed a hard shot which goalie Bartolo turned to corner with difficulty.

Mosta took the lead in the 30th minute against the run of play when in a counter attack, it was Reid who set Priso Doding who advanced into the Tarxien area to hit past the onrushing goalie Philip Schranz with the ball going in via the upright.

Tarxien retaliated and in the 35th minute, it was Sacha Borg who attempted a long distance shot which, however, went wide.

Tarxien started the second half on attack in search of an equaliser, but it was Mosta who went close on the 53rd minute when Priso set Reid who advanced into the area, only to shoot wide.

The Rainbows scored a merited equaliser in the 58th minute. Marcelina passed the ball forward to substitute Alex Nilsson who stopped the ball on the edge of the area and hit home a fine overhead kick which completely beat goalie Bartolo.

On the hour, Mosta again went close, this time through a Reid freekick which just missed the target.

In another Tarxien attack, Nilsson set Triston Caruana in the area, but his effort went high over the bar.

Tarxien remained the better team but rarely proved to be dangerous up front, although in the 79th minute, substitute Murga had a shot from 20 metres going wide.

In added time, Tarxien again threatened to score the winner. From a Triston Caruana freekick, Sacha Borg saw his header going just over the bar.