This is the first win of the season for Leonard Farrugia’s team Kirkop United in a balanced match which could have gone either way.
Luqa went close early on through Adrian Psaila and Mark Said but Kirkop broke the deadlock as Stefan Busuttil’s square pass was concluded by William Debattista.
Kirkop were then unlucky to hit the post through Brian Falzon but on 30 minutes Luqa were back on level terms through Christian Mifsud.
Just before the end of the first-half, Luqa’s striker Mark Said was unlucky to hit the post with a close-range effort.
Six minutes after the restart Stefan Busuttil put Kirkop in front with a strong low shot and in the 55th minute Brian Falzon headed in from a Mark Farrugia corner-kick to make it 3-1.
A blunder by the Kirkop custodian Mizzi in the 68th minute permitted Luqa to reduce the gap through substitute Nathaniel Falzon. Despite Luqa’s pressure, Kirkop managed to hold on to their precious lead.
Referee: Franco Cachia
Fgura-Gzira 1-0
Fgura United notched their fourth win from five matches as they inflicted the first defeat of the season on Gzira United. After only two minutes Fgura were close through Silvano Pace and at the other end the Maroons had two clear opportunities through Mark Brincat and Claude Grech.
Fgura’s reply produced attempts by Matthew Spiteri and Silvano Pace which just missed the target with Gzira going close early on in the second period through a Claude Grech personal effort.
However on 52 minutes Fgura broke the deadlock through Claude Grech following a good move by substitute Brignone.
Despite Gzira’s reaction it was Fgura who continued to create the better chances as they went close through Clint Ellul and Aldo Pace.
Referee: Thomas Debono
Gharghur-Attard 3-0
A goal in the first half scored by Christian Glass and two further goals by Wayne Mallia and Lawrence Vella after the break were enough for Gharghur to take the three points from a match they dominated for long stretches.
After only eight minutes Attard’s keeper Mizzi brought off a fine save off David Galea’s free-kick.
In the 27th minute Mizzi saved partially to stop a shot by Coleiro and from the rebound Mizzi was again on hand to block an attempt by Mallia. Gharghur increased the pressure and deservedly took the lead with Coleiro’s corner-kick being headed in by Christian Glass.
Gharghur dominated the second period with Wayne Mallia making it 2-0 after only five minutes and on 70 minutes they sealed the issue through Lawrence Vella following a good move by Mallia.
Referee: Mohammed Khalil
Ghaxaq-Zurrieq 0-4
Two first-half goals scored by Robert Bajada and Daniel Zammit paved the way for Zurrieq’s important win against Ghaxaq in a match they dominated.
Zurrieq were the better team throughout the first-half and they deservedly broke the deadlock on 20 minutes with Joe Lia finding Robert Bajada unmarked and the latter hit home from close range.
Ghaxaq failed to react with Zurrieq managing to score another goal five minutes before the break through Daniel Zammit.
After the change of ends Zurrieq remained in control and they sealed the issue in the 66th minute as Robert Bajada scored his second goal of the match.
Two minutes from time Godfrey Chetcuti further increased Zurrieq’s lead with a close range shot. Referee Pierre Bonnici had a positive debut.
Referee: Pierre Bonnici
Siggiewi-Sirens 0-2
Two second-half goals scored by Adrian Galea earned leaders Sirens their sixth straight win from as many matches as they dictated the proceedings for long stretches.
After only three minutes Siggiewi were close through Pierre Spiteri but from then onwards Sirens created various opportunities.
The Siggiewi keeper brought off difficult saves to deny Kenneth Zammit and Rueben Bonett. In the 32nd minute Azzopardi was again in action as he saved a Stefan Azzopardi cross shot but a minute after the restart Adrian Galea beat Azzopardi following good work by Barbara to give Sirens a deserved lead.
Siggiewi were unlucky when Pierre Spiteri’s header hit the crossbar. In swift counter-attacks Sirens were close through a Galea volley which was saved by Azzopardi and on another occasion Theuma hit wide with an open goal.
Although Siggiewi continued to press forward it was Sirens who managed to seal the issue in the 88th minute with Adrian Galea’s second goal of the match.
Referee: Alexei Tabone
Pembroke-Ta’ Xbiex 6-0
Ta’ Xbiex were completely dominated throughout the 90 minutes with Pembroke breaking the deadlock in the second minute through Andre Cachia.
Robert Zammit increased Athleta’s lead in the 14th minute with Andre Cachia making it 3-0 after 29 minutes. Two minutes later an indecision in the Ta’ Xbiex defence led to a fourth goal scored by Carlo Leonardi and on 57 minutes Andre Cachia notched his hat-trick to make it 5-0.
Substitute Simon Buhagiar added a sixth and final goal for Pembroke on 77 minutes.
Referee: Duncan Sultana