Mosta gain third consecutive win right at the death

Dexter Xuereb was the Mosta hero when he scored the winning goal two minutes from the end of the match against Sliema in a rather dull match. Both sides were clearly short of ideas in front of goal with the result that chances were few and far in between.

Mosta went into this match following back to back wins against Hamrun Spartans and Santa Lucia and were thus searching their third win on the trot. Not the same can be said of Sliema Wanderers who had won only one match from the seven played against basement side Tarxien Rainbows. In fact Sliema lost their last two matches against Sirens and Senglea.

Under pressure coach Alfonso Greco had to do without the suspended Robert Carvajal Diaz who was sent off against Senglea with Seydou Sow also missing for the Blues though serving a one-match ban. On the other hand Mosta had no selection problems with Edin Murga also returning in the fold and given a starting berth.

The match was dull for the first thirty five minutes with neither team taking the initiative and played restricted to the midfield area. In fact both Sliema and Mosta were erratic with the respective goalkeepers having a field day.

It was only eight minutes from the end of the first half that the first goalmouth action materialized. It was a shot from John Mintoff which was saved by Mosta goalkeeper Vella. A minute later Murga’s shot was saved by Elizaj with a helping hand from a defender. The resultant corner caused havoc in the Sliema area but finally Jonathan Pearson cleared the ball away.

Five minutes from the end of the first half Dexter Xuereb tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which ended wide.

The first exchanges of the second half once again proved futile. In the 58th minute a Zappa free kick from just outside the area was saved with some difficulty by Mosta goalkeeper Vella.

Play continued on the same pattern with both teams having practically nothing to offer. Much more was expected from Mosta who were coming from two good showings with Sliema keeping the same negative attitude as in previous matters.

But two minutes from the end of the match Mosta scored the winning goal through a shot from the edge of the area which found the top corner of the net to the delight of all the Mosta clan which have now registered three consecutive wins.