Gzira-Lija Ath 0-2

The first period belonged to the Maroons who dictated the run of play for long stretches.

Early on Keith Bonello shot just wide and in the seventh minute a pass by Josef Felice was picked up by Bonello whose strong low shot was excellently saved by the Lija goalkeeper Luke Bonnici.

Lija failed to create any goal scoring opportunities with Gzira again going close through a Thane Micallef close-range effort which was blocked by Bonnici. On another occasion in the 26th minute Keith Bonello failed to connect with the ball from a cross by Miguel Mifsud.

On the half hour a conclusion by Matthew Cocks was saved with difficulty by Bonnici and later on a free-kick taken by Josef Felice was blocked by a Lija defender.

In their only occasion Lija were close through a Keith Darmanin free-kick.

Five minutes before the end of the first period Gzira’s midfield player Miguel Mifsud crossed from the left flank but Steve Gatt failed to connect when unmarked infront of the Lija goalkeeper.

After the change of ends Lija gained the initiative and after going close through Keith Darmanin, on the hour they managed to break the deadlock when a Keith Darmanin free-kick was met by Michael Mangion whose first-time shot flashed in past Camilleri.

Lija struck again three minutes later through a lob by Matthew Borg, their latest signing whom they have taken on loan from Melita.

Gzira came back through a James Tabone free-kick which was met by Keith Bonello whose attempt just missed the target. On 81 minutes Lija missed a clear goal scoring opportunity through Michael Mangion and two minutes later the Lija custodian brought off an excellent save to deny Keith Bonello.

In added time Gzira were once again denied by Bonnici off an attempt by substitute Joseph Gatt.

Referee: Adrian Casha



B’buga SP-Mellieha SC 2-2

The Saints were the better team during the first half but it was Mellieha who created the first goal scoring opportunity through Julian Tabone.

In the fifth minute Birzebbuga broke the deadlock through a close-range header by Ronnie Celeste and four minutes later they could have increased their lead but they were denied by Abela off a low shot by Noel Tabone.

The Saints kept pushing forward and in the 21st minute they were very unlucky when a Carlos Camenzuli cross was met by Elton Bugeja whose attempt was stopped by the crossbar.

Four minutes later Mellieha made it one-all with Philip Camilleri’s through-pass finding Wayne Borg St John who advanced before unleashing a shot which went in past Mansueto.

At the other end the Saints went close to regaining the lead through Noel Tabone and Elton Bugeja.

After the resumption Mellieha played the better football as they created the bulk of the goal scoring opportunities.

In the 50th minute a shot by Rio Micallef ended just wide and two minutes later Kevin Gauci’s low drive was well saved by Mansueto.

In a counter-attack the Saints were close through Ronnie Celeste and on another occasion a Ribert Adami inswinging corner-kick almost led to an own-goal by a Mellieha defender but James Abela avoided the worst as he saved the ball on his goal line.

Then Mellieha’s experienced schemer Philip Camilleri was denied by Mansueto and in the 78th minute an overhead kick by Borg St John just missed the target.

Against the run of play Birzebbugia scored in the 81st minute through Carlos Camenzuli but two minutes later Mellieha obtained a much deserved equalising goal through a penalty given for a handsball by Elton Bugeja and converted by their best player Wayne Borg St John.

Mellieha continued to push forward but were unable to score with the final result remaining at two-all.

Referee: Duncan Sultana



St Venera L-Zurrieq 3-1

Zurrieq came out strongly and early on their striker Daniel Zammit he hesitated infront of goal to miss a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Then Olusey Ogun went close with a low shot which finished just wide and at the other end a Jeffrey Zammit free-kick was headed just wide by Stefan Farrugia.

Zurrieq were then denied by the St Venera keeper off a Chris Farrugia long-range free-kick but on 25 minutes they broke the deadlock as a Johan Briffa free-kick was finished off by Olusey Ogun.

St Venera reacted and were very close on two occasions through Ismael Zammit and Alistair Camilleri. At the other end Zurrieq were denied by Agius off a strong volley by Johan Briffa.

St Venera dictated the run of play during the second-half and after five minutes they had a shot by Mark Muscat which finished just wide.

Then an Ismael Zammit effort was deflected to a corner-kick with Zurrieq responding through Olusey Ogun whose strong shot ended just high over the bar. In the 59th minute Zurrieq’s substitute Clive Shuma missed an easy opportunity from a cross by Chris Farrugia and a minute later Ogun was a bit late on the ball off a cross from the right flank.

On the hour St Venera drew level as a cross by Alistair Camilleri was finished off by Nenad Veselji.

The Saints kept pushing forward and twice went close through Jeffrey Zammit but in the 78th minute they took the lead with Daniel Zuccaro heading in from close-range.

In the 83rd minute Zurrieq won a free-kick which was taken by Dino Bonnici and Jason Saliba’s header ended just wide.

In the 88th minute the Lightnings practically closed the match when a shot by Jeffrey Zammit hit the post and the same player hit home from the rebound for a 3-1 final scoreline. This is the Lightnings’ second win of the season from six matches.

Referee: Sammy Attard



Gharghur-Senglea Ath 1-2

Senglea dictated the run of play throughout the first period with Darren hitting just wide from a well-taken free-kick after just three minutes.

On 17 minutes Senglea opened the score with Daniel Cosaitis heading in past Mark Aquilina. Senglea increased the pressure going very close through Bjorn Dalli, Darren Grech and Timothy Thomas.

However, they did increase their lead in the 30th minute as a good move by Dalli was finished by Timothy Thomas.

At the other end Gharghur had a shot by Shaun Vella which was cleared off the goal line but in the 39th minute they pulled back a goal through a strong shot by Jonathan Buttigieg.

Two minutes later Gharghur could have drawn level with Clint Farrugia crossing from the left flank and Christopher Vella all alone shot high over the bar.

Five minutes after the restart Gharghur went close through Shaun Vella and, on the hour, Mark Decesare’s header finished just wide from a free-kick taken by Ian Borg.

Gharghur continued to push forward with George Attard denying them off a close-range attempt by Karl Vella Petroni and on another occasion a cross by Marco Mercieca was met by Shaun Vella who shot just high.

In the 83rd minute Vella was denied by the Senglea keeper and a minute later the Gharghur custodian Mark Aquilina came out of his goal to anticipate Timothy Thomas.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri