The Malta Independent 4 September 2026, Friday
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Football – Bank Of Valletta second division: San Gwann champions and promoted

Malta Independent Wednesday, 14 May 2008, 00:00 Last update: about 13 years ago

San Gwann took just 50 seconds to open the score. A shot by Roberto Brincat was partially saved by Tabone and Lee Cumbo’s attempt was punched off the goal line by the Saints’ defender Jonathan Briscoe White who was shown the red card. Sergio Hili scored from the penalty spot.

On 12 minutes Roberto Brincat increased San Gwann’s lead with a tremendous shot. Then the Saints’ keeper dived at the feet of the advancing Hili with St. Andrews going close as an effort by Jeremy Gatt Coleiro was saved by Spiteri.

On 26 minutes Sergio Hili wasted a clear goalscoring opportunity but four minutes later the same player made it 3-0 for San Gwann following good work by Antoine Zahra.

St. Andrews went close through Jeremy Gatt Coleiro but in the 45th minute San Gwann scored a fourth goal through Antoine Zahra.

Nine minutes after the restart San Gwann had a shot by Sergio Hili which just missed the target with St. Andrews twice going close through Alex Busuttil and Michael Valencia.

In the 67th minute the Saints obtained a consolation goal as a cross by Michael Valencia was headed into his own net by San Gwann defender Rennie Forace for an unfortunate own-goal.

In the 73rd minute the Saints hit the post through substitute Jordan Calleja from an Alex Busuttil through-pass. Six minutes from time St. Andrews were again close with Anthony Galea’s pass being picked up by Jeremy Gatt Coleiro whose point-blank shot was saved with difficulty by Spiteri.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

B’Bugia SP-Balzan Y 0-4

Balzan Youths dominated the first period and early on an Ives Biloca crosshot finished just wide.

Then the B’Bugia custodian saved off a Jerryton Agius free-kick and on another occasion Antoine Sacco’s attempt was deflected to a corner-kick.

Balzan’s pressure paid off in the 13th minute with Jerryton Agius breaking the deadlock with a strong low shot. Five minutes later Balzan won a corner-kick which was taken by Aaaron Agius and Kurt Coleiro headed in past Mercieca.

They were again very close through David Agius and Roderick Farrugia but seconds before the end of the first period Antoine Sacco shot in past Mercieca to give his team a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Balzan Youths eased the pressure after the break with B’Bugia going close on two occasions through Johan Zammit.

The same player was injured in the 73rd minute and had to leave the field of play, leaving his team with ten players after B’Bugia had made all possible substitutions.

Two minutes later Balzan sealed their win with a fourth goal two minutes later through an own goal by B’Bugia’s gpalkeeper Jean Paul Mercieca off a crosshot by Ives Bilocca.

Although Balzan sustained the pressure there were no more goals.

Balzan Youths now have to face Rabat Ajax in a Promotion Decider.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Zurrieq-Sirens 4-1

After just three minutes Zurrieq were close with Godfrey Chetcuti’s header being saved with difficulty by the Sirens’ keeper Richard Vella.

Then Daniel Zammit headed just wide from a cross by Matthew Genuis but Zurrieq broke the deadlock on nine minutes as a through-pass by Matthew Genuis was concluded by Daniel Zammit beyond Vella’s reach.

In the 20th minute Vella denied Zurrieq off a Matthew Genuis free-kick but four minutes Zurrieq made it 2-0 with Godfrey Chetcuti taking advantage from a mistake by Vella.

In the 31st minute Zurrieq scored a third goal through Daniel Zammit following good work by Michael Abdilla. Early on in the second period Zurrieq went very close through Godfrey Chetcuti with the same player having a goal disallowed for an offside infringement in the 59th minute.

A minute later Zurrieq made it 4-0 as a pass by Karmenu Farrugia was finished off by Karl Sacco. Then Godfrey Chetcuti shot just wide from close-range with Sirens missing a clear goal scoring opportunity through Giovanni Galea.

A minute from time Zurrieq were denied by Vella off a shot by Karmenu Farrugia. Despite this win Zurrieq have already been relegated since they had five deducted by the MFA due to two separate issues.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Naxxar-Rabat 0-2

An important win for the Magpies who will now be facing Balzan Youths in a Promotion Decider but this is also an important result for San Gwann who are Second Division Champions for this season.

After four minutes Rabat went close through Michael Micallef but they took the lead in the 7th minute as a shot by Chris Schembri was handled by Naxxar’s defender Emanuel Cutajar with the referee awarding Rabat a penalty which was duly converted by Adam Smeir.

Rabat doubled their lead through Chris Schembri in the 16th minute with Naxxar responding through a Chris Farrugia header which just missed the target from a Kevin enech free-kick.

Then Naxxar’s striker Andy Bartolo hit just wide from the edge of te penalty area and eight minutes after the restart they were denied by the Rabat keeper off a shot by Chris Farrugia.

Rabat gradually regained the upper hand in the midfield sector with Adam Smeir hitting the foot of the upright with a close-range effort in the 74th minute. A minute later Smeir wasted a clear opportunity with Naxxar responding through a Trevor Fenech free-kick which finished just high over the bar.

At the other end Rabat were denied by the Lions’ substitute keeper Agius off a Smeir crosshot and four minutes rom time Gwyn Vassallo shot just wide of the farr post from a diffcult position.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

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