ST ANDREWS                                 2                     

Farrugia 9 pen.

Reid 72

TARXIEN RAINBOWS                  3

Faria 25, 78

Dieye 37

Tarxien Rainbows put on one of their best displays this season to secure a 3-2 victory over fellow relegation contenders St Andrews in a nail-biting encounter.

With this win the Rainbows have now moved up fourth from bottom on 10 points, three ahead of second-from-bottom St Andrews.

Michael Woods could not have imagined a better start on his first game at the helm of St Andrews, when his team was awarded a penalty after an Aidan Friggieri’s cross was handed in the box and skipper Joseph Farrugia converted the penalty to break the deadlock.

On 22 minutes, Matar Dieye rushed towards goal and let fly an inviting cross into the box which dropped on Ricardo Faria’s feet before he slotted beneath Matthew Calleja Cremona.

On the brink of half-time, St Andrews were reduced to ten when Travis Blagrove was given the marching orders when he floored Dieye.

The former Torino Primavera player took charge of the resultant penalty and put Tarxien ahead.

The Rainbows created a hatful of chances in the second half but their carelessness in front of goal came back to haunt them when substitute Kemar Reid hit a short-range shot which deceived Antonio Chetcuti  to restore parity.

Nonetheless, Tarxien went on to grab the winner through one of their best players on the pitch, Faria, who connected with a left-hand side cross and with a towering header lobbed the ball over Calleja Cremona.

BOV Player of the match Matar Dieye (Tarxien Rainbows).