After suffering five consecutive defeats, Tarxien Rainbows bounced back with a win over St. Andrews thanks to the odd goal in five at the Hibernians Stadium. A win which enabled them to leapfrog Naxxar and move eleventh on the 10-point mark, one point ahead of Naxxar and three ahead of St. Andrews.
For the Saints, now under the guidance of coach Michael Woods, this was the sixth defeat in seven matches.
Ironically St. Andrews managed to take the lead after they were awarded a penalty when a Tarxien defender handled the ball inside the area and from the penalty spot, Joseph Farrugia converted.
Tarxien equalised on the 25th minute when Ricardo Silva Faria, served by Matar Dieye from the right, beat Calleja Cremona.
The Rainbows forged ahead on the 36th minute when Travis Blagrove brought Matar Dieye down inside the area; the St. Andrews defender was sent off and from the penalty spot, Matar Dieye converted.
St. Andrews restored equilibrium on the 71st minute thanks to a powerful shot from close range by substitute Kemar Reid.
However six minutes later, Tarxien regained the lead thanks to Ricardo Silva Faria whose shot from inside the area, when served by Scicluna, beat the St. Andrews goalkeeper.
Photos: Copyright © Andrew Grima
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ST ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Jacob Walker, Adrian Borg, Travis Blagrove, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Joseph Farrugia, Misael Miranda Gomez, Kyle Butler (81′ Marcus Grima), Aidan Jake Friggieri, Martin Davis (49′ Kemar David Reid), Kevaun Atkinson.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Liam Grech, Dejan Debono, Alex Satariano, Jamie Magri Overend.
Coach: Michael WoodsTARXIEN Antonio Chetcuti, Ebiabowei Baker, Matthew Brincat, Matar Dieye, Andrew Agius, Luke Grech, Andrè Charles Scicluna, Artur Benes, Ricardo Silva Faria (85′ Mamadou Traore), Sean Cipriott (74′ Godwin McKay), Matteo Desira Buttigieg (64′ James Brincat).
Subs not used: Dean Sciberras, Matthew Spiteri, Ayrton Azzopardi, Eduard Calin.
Coach: Josè BorgReferee: Eman Grech
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Duzan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Blagrove, Borg, Dieye, Cipriott
Red Cards: 36′ Travis Blagrove
BOV Player of the Match: Matar Dieye