Sirens managed to register a double against Gzira after having beaten them in the first round.

The North sea-side youngsters deserved the verdict as they were the better outfit. They are now joint leaders with St Venera on 19 points from eight games while Gzira are on 18 points also from 8 games.

The early pressure came from Gzira as they created three actions in a row. Lydin Camilleri served Kyle De Leonardo on the right flank and Sirens keeper Stefan Cutajar neutralised the ball from his cross.

Camilleri served Josef Galea with a long throw-in from the right flank and as he tried his luck with a lobbed ball from the edge of the area it nearly deceived Cutajar who had to tip the ball over the bar.

Sirens reacted and Wayne Sammut served James Bonnici with a through ball but Gzira keeper Glenn Zammit saved his effort from outside the area.

Sirens forged ahead in the 25th minute. Dejan Azzopardi won a tussle near the left flank corner flag who then crossed the ball in the area and Alexander Akl pounced on a defensive indecision and scored with a low shot.

Two minutes later they doubled their lead as Kurt Dimech served Sammut with a through pass who scored with a grounder. The last action before the break was also created by Sirens when Sammut served Akl in the area but Zammit saved his feeble shot.

Sirens commenced the second period on a high as they mounted two actions in a row. Azzopardi was fouled just outside the area and from the free kick by Kurt Muscat, Zammit had to dive to turn to corner. Then a one-two between Akl and Sammut finished with the latter crossing the ball from the right flank and Zammit neutralised it with a perfect sortie.

In a Gzira reaction, Josef Galea served De Leonardo with a through ball in the area, his shot was partly cleared and from the rebound by the same player the ball sailed over the bar.

Julian Magri served De Leonardo on the right flank and the ball was cleared to a corner from his cross. Magri again served De Leonardo in the area and after Cutajar partly saved his shot, the ball was cleared by a defender.

After substitute Renald Aquilina was fouled outside the area the ball missed the upright by inches from the free kick by Matthew Tabone.

The score became 3-0 six minutes before the end. Bonnici released Sammut on the right flank who in turn crossed the ball in the area where Akl was left unmarked and he shot past Zammit.

Referee: Jonathan Bonell

Player of the match: Kurt Dimech (Sirens)