A goal by Obinna Obiefule handed Mosta another three precious points as they defeated Qormi 1-0 to move eighth.

For Qormi, this was yet another disappointing result as they were suffering the fifth defeat in six matches.

Both sides had a player making his debut – English central defender Kris Thackray for Qormi and midfielder Dyson Falzon for Mosta. Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi could not count on the suspended Jorge Pereira da Silva while Nigerian striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie who is recovering from an injury started the game on the bench.

The Blues had the first attempt at goal on the 6th minute with Dyson Falzon trying his luck with a shot from outside the area ending wide.

Mosta took the lead on 19 minutes when off a cross by Jonathan Bajada from the right, Obinna Obiefule managed to beat goalkeeper Steve Sultana with a close-range header.

Qormi replied with a Joseph Farrugia freekick which was neutralised by Jonathan Debono on 25 minutes.

Twelve minutes in the second half, Wellman headed high off a Joseph Farrugia corner.

On the hour, Suguino chested the ball down for Matthew Bartolo whose first time effort was neutralised by the Mosta goalkeeper. Four minutes later, a powerful drive by Matthew Bartolo ended just over the bar.

Qormi continued to hold the initiative and Joseph Farrugia once again tried his luck with a long-distance shot ending wide on the 81st minute. A Qormi goal was disallowed for an offside in the dying minutes and in added time, Triston Caruana had two attempts at goal, first with a shot from outside the area being turned into a corner and then with a low shot from the edge of the area which was neutralised by the Mosta custodian.

Obinna Obiefule was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Kane Farrugia, Federico Tisbi, Yannick Ossok, Florent Raimy, Jonathan Bajada, Kurt Magro, Dyson Falzon (54′ Firas Aboulezz), Ian Zammit, Obinna Obiefule (87′ Zakaria Kibona).
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Luca Martinelli, Sheldon Grech, Alex Cini, Predrag Mirceta.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

QORMI Steve Sultana, Caio Garcia Suguino (62′ Abubakar Bello-Osagie), Roderick Sammut, Matthew Bartolo, Joseph Chetcuti, Joseph Farrugia, Luke Sciberras, Federico Mirarchi (46′ Stephen Wellman), Jonathan Bondin, Kris Thackray, Triston Caruana.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Carmelo Farrugia, Jeremy Farrugia, Ranier Buhagiar, Kenneth Scicluna.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referes: William Debattista, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: Sammut, Sciberras
Scorers: 19’ Obinna Obiefule

Meanwhile Balzan Youths moved fourth, one point ahead of Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara, as they beat Marsaxlokk 1-0.

Bledjon Guga, Jonathan Francica and Bjorn Bondin were all ruled out through suspension. Jamie Pace was making his debut for Balzan Youths after joining the club on loan from Valletta.

Marsaxlokk had Jermain Brincat and Nigerian striker Peter Taiye Oladotun making their debut while Luke Agius and Gabriel Buttigieg was making his first league appearance for the Southseasiders after making his debut in the FA Trophy. They lacked Sacha Borg, Patrick Borg and Clive Brincat.

Balzan made their intentions clear right from the start, going close with a Pedro dos Santos Calcado freekick on 15 minutes.

A minute later, the Youths took the lead thanks to Dylan Grima who concluded a good move with a powerful shot from inside the area which gave goalkeeper Christian Cassar no chance.

Gary Caruana then missed a good opportunity to level matters on the 39th minute following an inviting cross by Nemanja Stoskovic from the right.

Nine minutes in the second half, Anthony Eviparker headed high off a cross by Deanov from the right. Matthew Camilleri then performed a good save on a Peter Oladotun header off a cross by Stoskovic on 73 minutes.

Five minutes from time, Modesto Valeriani came to the rescue, clearing the ball into a corner following a fine pass by Fagner for Lydon Micallef.

Dylan Grima was voted BOV Player of the Match.

M’XLOKK Christian Cassar, Modesto Valeriani, Kevin Polidano (90+1′ Craig Debattista), Luke Agius (74′ Darrell Grech), Jonathan Xerri, Trevor Templeman, Nemanja Stoskovic, Jean Paul Farrugia, Gary Caruana, Peter Taiye Oladotun, Jermain Brincat (66′ Gabriel Buttigieg).
Subs not used: Jurgen Muscat, Stefan Cutajar, , Manuel Caruana, Dylan Attard.
Coach: Anton Cremona
Asst. Coach: Louis Cutajar

BALZAN Matthew Camilleri, Clifton Ciantar, Yessous Camilleri, Rennie Forace, Roderick Farrugia, Nikola Tasic, Dylan Grima, Jamie Pace (44′ Fagner Lins Bernardes), Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Martin Deyanov (83′ Lydon Micallef), Anthony Eviparker (69′ Miguel Ciantar).
Subs not used: Fredrick Tabone, David Fenech, Michael Borg, Silvan Ciscaldi.
Coach: Joe Borg
Team Manager: Ivan Zammit

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Chris Lautier
Yellow Cards: Polidano, Bernardes
Scorers: 16′ Dylan Grima
Attendance: 728