Under-16

Sliema W 1

Pieta H 3

This top-of-table clash attracted a very large crowd at St. Aloysius. Pieta obtained sole leadership with maximum points from seven games. Sliema are on 15 points from six games.

The Blues created the first occasions; Valerio Mattola crossed to Mark Scerri, the latter back-passed to Godfrey Enyi Onyebuchi whose shot missed the upright with Pieta ‘keeper Kersten Vella beaten.

In Pieta’s first attack in the 17th minute they forged ahead; Daniel Gatt put Glenville Goodlip through in the area, was tripped by Kane Farrugia and Karl Pulo netted from the spot.

Six minutes later, Miguel Ciantar should have equalised for Sliema when after a shot by Scerri, Vella partially saved and Ciantar skied the rebound from two metres; but a minutes later Sliema equalised; Guiseppe Muscat served Ciantar from a free kick, the latter crossed to John Nuvola Ogechuckwa who unmarked in the area had no difficulty to tap the ball home.

On 29 minutes Pieta regained their slender lead; Nathan Busuttil, who was a constant headache to the Sliema defence, was fouled just outside the area and from the resultant free kick taken by Goodlip the ball was deflected into the net by a Blues defender.

Daniel Gatt put Nathan Busuttil through and as Blues goalkeeper Michael Incorvaja came out to narrow the angle, Busuttil lobbed the ball with Incorvaja managing to get his fingertips to the ball and a Blues defender cleared the danger.

The second period was also action packed, with both sides playing attractive football, which surely pleased the crowd present.

A Scerri free kick shot was partially cleared, and Vella had to dive and save the rebound shot by Ciantar, and a header by Scerri missed the upright after a Ryan Borg flag kick.

On 52 minutes the woodwork denied Pieta a third goal as a shot by Goodlip hit the upright and finished in Incorvaja’s hands who later saved on Pulo after a Sheldon Grech free kick pass.

On 69 minutes Sliema were reduced to ten men. Chris Mackay was put through, Incorvaja came out of his charge in an effort to foil him and handled the ball outside the area and was consequently shown the red card.

A minute before the end Pieta put the issue beyond any doubt. Nathan Busuttil dribbled past two opponents on the left flank and crossed to Goodlip who made no mistake from inside the area.

Referee: Darren Calleja

Player of Match: Nathan Busuttil (Pieta H)

Paola H 5

Tarxien R 0

This Cottonera derby turned out to be an easy game for the Paolites who obtained the three points after a recent spate of negative results. Tarxien have to improve their performance in order to avoid a quick return to Section B.

Hibs took an early 5th minute lead through Leighton Grech who netted a rebound after a Sammy Piscopo flag kick was partially cleared.

Tarxien re-acted when Edward Vassallo put Michael Zammit through but a Hibs defender cleared his shot to a corner.

A well taken flag kick by Iuguanez was cleared away by a Tarxien defender and at the other end Hibs ‘keeper Walter Farrugia neutralised a Jan Bescander cross.

Tarxien nearly equalised on 28 minutes when a shot by Vassallo missed the upright after pouncing on a faulty clearance.

Hibs doubled on the half hour. From a cross-shot by Inguanez, Tarxien 'keeper was totally deceived when the strong wind helped the ball to finish in the roof of the net.

Vassallo then put Zammit through but he failed to make contact with the ball when well placed in Hibs area.

Just before the half time whistle Hibs scored a third goal through Inguanez who was unmarked in the area and had the easiest of tasks to score after a Jonathan Scerri through ball.

The Paolities dominated the second period and added two further goals through Scerri in the 64th minute after beating a defender and six minutes before the end substitute Bromwen Bugeja scored a fifth goal after a Scerri through ball.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil

Player of Match: Sammy Piscopo.