Attard consolidated top spot in the table with 22 points from 11 games while B’Bugia are in 11th place having 12 points from 10 games.

For this match they had five regulars missing from their line-up.

The early pressure came from Attard. Matthew Fenech served Lee Borg with a through ball on the right flank who in turn crossed to Philip Vella but he drove out from inside the area.

Birzebbuga keeper Kenneth Bedingfield partially saved a shot by Fenech and a defender cleared the ball to safety. He also neutralised a cross from the left by Philip Vella. Lee Borg served Matthew Scerri with a through ball in the area but his shot missed the upright.

Cini then saved a header by Keith Muscat after he was served from a long throw-in by D’Amato.

On 29 minutes Attard opened the score. After a well-taken flag kick by Chris Micallef the ball was partially cleared and Philip Vella who was on the edge of the area got his left foot to the ball and scored a beauty with a rising shot.

The last action before the break came from Birzebbuga when Adrian Dominicus served Muscat with a perfect pass in the area and as the latter’s shot was deflected by a defender the ball was easily neutralized by Cini.

Birzebbuga created the first occasions after the restart. Dominicus served Muscat in the area but his shot missed the upright. On 50 minutes Dominicus should have equalised for Birzebbuga, he was served from a free kick by his keeper and after entering the area where he was left unmarked he advanced and with only Cini to beat he unbelievably drove out from two metres.

Attard doubled the score on 70 minutes. Substitute Andre Borg scored from inside the area after the ball was not cleared following a well-taken flag kick by Chris Micallef.

Matthew Fenech served Matthew Scerri with a low cross from the left but the latter’s shot sailed over the bar.

Three minutes before the end B’Buga were denied a penalty. Muscat served Dillon Urry with a through ball in the area and as he tried to advance further he was sandwiched and pushed by Jake Gauci and referee Darren Azzopardi, who was not up with play, saw nothing wrong and let play go on.

Just before the final whistle the woodwork denied Attard a third goal. Lee Borg served Matthew Scerri in the area, from the latter’s shot the ball hit the base of the upright and rolled over the goal line and it was smothered by Cini as nobody was on hand to apply the killer touch.

Referee: Jonathan Bonello

Player of match: Lee Borg (Attard)

Kirkop Utd 1

Zebbug R 1

This low key game disappointed the few spectators present at the Corradino Hockey Ground as a keen game was expected from two teams who are jointly occupying third position in the table.

Shots at goal were as scarce as rain in July and both keepers were rarely troubled as they dealt mainly with crosses and back-passes by their colleagues.

Zebbug created the first occasions. Kevin Tanti floated a perfect ball in the area from a free kick but a Zebbug forward fouled Kirkop keeper Paulsep Cutajar, Carlos Zammit served Steve Garrett with a cross from the left but he failed to make contact with the ball from an ideal position and Cutajar saved in two attempts a free kick shot by Tanti.

On 14 minutes Zebbug forged ahead through Carlos Zammit who headed in from inside the area after a Jonathan Bugeja perfect cross from the right after a solo run down the flank.

Zebbug were very close again on 19 minutes when Steve Garrett, up with his forwards served Elton Calleja with a cross from the right, Cutajar partially saved the latter’s shot and a defender cleared the ball to corner.

Kirkop equalised on 22 minutes. Antonio Tozzolino served Daniel Scicluna on the left flank who entered the area after beating a defender and Zebbug keeper Brandon Bartolo came out of his charge and in an attempt to foil him from concluding, tripped him and Michael Theuma converted from the spot with a hard grounder.

The second period was also shorn of goalmouth actions. From a cross from the right by Daniel Scicluna the ball was deflected by a Zebbug defender and Bartolo easily smothered.

After a run down the right flank by Garrett he entered the area and Cutajar partially saved his shot and the ball was cleared to safety.

After a well-taken flag kick by substitute Nigel Fenech, a header by Elton Calleja from the edge of the area was cleared to another corner and the same player had a shot from outside the area which missed Kirkop’s bar by inches and the last action also came from Zebbug as Garrett crossed from the right to Calleja and Cutajar saved his header.

Referee: Matthew Vella

Player of match: Elton Calleja (Zebbug R)