St Andrews no match for improved Rainbows
■ Tarxien Rainbows claimed their first victory of the season yesterday evening as they brushed aside a feeble challenge from St Andrews to emerge 5-1 winners.
Darren Falzon, Gabriel Aquilina and Michele Paolucci had given them a 3-0 lead by the 52nd minute. Alex Satariano got one back for the Saints on 63 minutes, but it was too little and too late for the Saints to save the match as Tarxien were still good enough to add another two goals by Ricardo Faria, one of them a penalty.
The Rainbows were in command for most of the first half as they built a healthy 2-0 cushion, scoring two goals in the space of eight minutes.
The Saints never appeared to be in the same form as they had been in their opening match. In the opening period, they were a disorganised lot, especially at the back. Moreover, they lacked punch up front as several passes went astray. They were still the better team in the second half and merited their 3-0 lead and although the Saints hit back 11 minutes later, it was not enough to save at least a point.
The first action arrived on 10 minutes when St Andrews striker Degran Jackson saw his crossshot landing on the net.
Tarxien took the lead on the 15th minute when in a speedy counterattack, Michele Paolucci found the completely unmarked Darren Falzon who had no difficulty in planting the ball into the empty net. It was 2-0 on the 23rd minute as Paolucci was once again the provider as he set Gabriel Aquilina on the edge of the area, and the latter scored with a low shot to the right corner.
On 33 minutes, the Saints threatened through Brown who received a good cross from Davis, but his effort hit the side rigging.
But their best attempt arrived just before the end of the first half M. Calleja Cremona M. D’Alessandro (D. Debono 46) A. Satariano J. Van de Lannoite A. Brown (J. Walker 90) J. Farrugia M. Woo Ling K. Atkinson M. Davis D. Jackson (M. Veselji 76) T. Blagrove
Referee: Asst Referees: 4th Official: Scorers:
Yellow cards: Player of the match: TMI Top 3: Attendance:
– a fine shot by Martin Davis being deviated to corner.
Tarxien started the second half in convincing manner and it was no surprise that they scored again on 52 minutes. It was substitute Nilsson who squared the ball low into the area, the Saints defence failed to clear and Michele Paolucci was on hand to hit home.
The Saints replied with a Davis shot which was excellently saved by Cassar. Finally, they managed A. Cassar A. Wemmer R. Rogac (L. Grech 63) D. Zerafa M. Brincat (A. Nilsson 46) M. Paolucci G. Aquilina (M. Spiteri 70) D. Falzon S. Radovanovic A. De Barros R. Faria
F. Zammit R. Vella, T. Zammit D. Agius D. Falzon 15, G. Aquilina 23, M. Paolucci 52, A. Satariano 63, R. Faria (2) pen. 79, 90 A. Satariano 11, D. Debono 67, M. Calleja Cremona 79 M. Paolucci M. Paolucci, 2. G. Aquilina; 3. M. Davis 318
to find the net on 63 minutes when Alex Satariano scored following a low cross by Atkinson.
The match was completely over in the 79th minute when Ricardo Faria converted a penalty after he himself was floored by goalie Calleja Cremona in the area.
Deep into added time, it was Faria who advanced unhindered to beat the onrushing Calleja Cremona for the Rainbows’ fifth and final goal.