Mosta fight for a deserved point

Football - BOV Premier League

displayed plenty of the spirit in their fight for Premier League survival and this point may serve as a kickstart for the New Year.

New coach Hornyak, in his second outing with Mosta, introduced Neil Frendo, Jaroslav Repa and Luca Martinelli from the start, following defeat against Birkirkara in midweek. Njongo Priso was still suspended for the Blues.

St Andrews were also bereft of two suspended key defenders in the likes of Beltre and Bakmaz.

St Andrews took only 26 seconds to score one of the fastest goals in domestic football as Ziga Kastrevec advanced through the open Mosta defence and when Martinelli failed to clear the ball, he had his first effort parried by keeper Cini, only for the Saints’ forward to find time to head low into an unattended goal.

That early setback unsettled Mosta as St Andrews dominated the early exchanges.

Past the quarter hour Camilleri picked Kastrevec with an inviting pass but the effort went wide.

Oseghale was the first to test the Saints’ keeper Galea midway through the half, blocking his shot into a corner.

Towards the half hour Mosta won a penalty after Brandle felled Bezak inside the area. Saints’ keeper Galea held out Bezak’s weak shot but Lucky Oseghale tapped in the rebound to level matters.

Mosta improved considerably in the second period and after a short spell of artless skirmishes, they created three good scoring opportunities that could have won them the match.

Towards the hour Reid played the ball to Bezak who went past the Saints’ defence but then missed the target by inches.

Three minutes later Bezak again went close with a long drive that was deflected by keeper Galea before hitting the foot of the post.

Mosta were playing the better football and created another chance on 69 minutes Bezak played the ball forward to Reid who went past Udoh but keeper Galea was again prominent, blocking with his feet.

St Andrews could have also grabbed full points with three minutes remaining. Johnson headed a Farrugia corner agaisnt the bar and the chance went begging.

■ Mosta fought back from their haphazard opening and grabbed a deserved equaliser in the first half, showing impressive character in the second and carved out enough chances that could have also won them the game against St Andrews yesterday. The last...