Tarxien Rainbows leapfrogged St. Andrews to move eighth in the BOV Premier League table as they defeated them 2-1 at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday.
The Saints, on the other hand, have now gone five matches without a win, although they did get the three points from the game against Floriana after their protest was upheld. They now lie two points behind the Rainbows, sharing the ninth place with Floriana.
Tarxien had three players making their debut, namely Thomas Veronese, Juan Cruz Gill and Siraj Arab Eddin but the former Gżira defender sustained an injury after just two minutes and had to be substituted. Marco Botta, Jacson da Paixao and the suspended Daren Falzon, along with Stefan Radovanovic, who has now joined Pietà, made way for the three new signings and Ricardo Silva Faria who was also named in the starting line-up.
The Saints, on the other hand, had Aidan Jake Friggieri and Kemmu Degran Jackson replacing Kurt Magro and the suspended Kevaughn Atkinson.
Tarxien forged ahead on the 24th minute when off a cross by Ricardinho from the left, Matthew Woo Ling deflected the ball past goalkeeper Calleja Cremona for an own goal.
Three minutes in the second half, the Rainbows double the score with a rising shot from the left by Ricardo Silva Faria which saw the ball hit the upright before ending at the back of the net.
St. Andrews pulled one back on the 53rd minute after they were awarded a penalty when Daniel Zerafa brought Adrian Borg down inside the area and Martin Davis converted from the penalty spot.
TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Thomas Veronese (8′ Luke Grech), Jens Alexander Wemmer, Juan Cruz Gill, Daniel Zerafa, Matthew Spiteri, Michele Paolucci (74′ Alex Nilsson), Gabriel Aquilina (90′ Andrew Agius), Siraj Arab Eddin, Anderson De Barros, Ricardo Silva Faria.
Subs not used: Maverick Buhagiar, Matthew Brincat, Daniel Vassallo, Miguel Ciantar.
Coach: Jose Borg
Asst. Coach: Saviour Debono GrechST. ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Alex Satariano, Kevyn Mcfarlane (82′ Jacob Walker), Ricardo Martin, Aidan Jake Friggieri (56′ Kurt Magro), Kemar David Reid, Adrian Borg, Amoy Brown, Martin Davis, Kemmu Degran Jackson, Matthew Woo Ling (61′ Joseph Farrugia).
Subs not used: Sebastian Spiteri, Marcus Grima, Benjamin Gatt Floridia, Matthew Muscat.
Coach: Johann SciclunaReferee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: Arab, Mcfarlane, Magro, Paolucci, Spiteri
BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Silva FariaAttendance: 325