St Venera 1

Zurrieq 2

Zurrieq won their first match this season after they managed to beat St Venera 2-1.

Zurrieq were the better team in the first half but scored two goals in the second half against the run of play when St Venera were playing their better football.

Zurrieq went close on the 17th minute when a cross from Josef Briffa, Cuschieri didn’t catch the ball but from an ideal position Portelli shot wide. On the 26th minute Portelli had a dangerous shot which was deflected into a corner.

The only dangerous shot from St Venera came in the 35th minute but Carbonaro’s shot from outside the box went wide.

St Venera were better in the second half but it was Zurrieq who took the lead. It was on the 59th minute when a through-pass from the Zurrieq defence Harballand put past Cuschieri and Andy Portelli completed the ball in.

St Venera replied six minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Grech was fouled in the area. Stefan Farrugia converted from the penalty spot.

On the 72nd minute, St Venera were close to take the lead. It was from a goalkick that the ball went to Grech but he missed the target. Two minutes from time Zurrieq scored the winning goal. From a throw-in Harballand scored from a close range. At the end St Venera were reduced to ten men after Mark Muscat was sent off.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Onouha, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili (D. Mercieca), K. Vella, R. Carbonaro (R. Borg), M. Grech, E. Muscat (J. Taliana)

Zurrieq: K. Ellul, D. Bonnici, K. Sacco, D. Bellizzi, J. Lia, C. Caruana (C. Shumba), K. Agius, Jos. Briffa, Joh. Briffa (J. Fenech), D. Haraballand, A. Portelli

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Siggiewi 0

Zebbug 0

Zebbug and Siggiewi took a point each after they shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw. In this game possession dominated the scoring chances.

After this result, Siggiewi are on four points while Zebbug have two points after their second consecutive draw.

On the 12th minute a first timer from Rodreick Spiteri for Zebbug went wide. On the 24th minute Siggiewi had a shot from Marlon Vella which went very close. On the 45th minute Zebbug had a great opportunity but Ciappara’s lob went out.

On the 67th minute Siggiewi went close after a shot from Buhagiar was turned into a corner by Mercieca. On the 75th minute Zebbug had probably their best chance. A cross from Cumbo fell into Ciappara’s feet but the latter’s shot was saved by Vella but from the rebound Spiteri shot wide.

Zebbug had a shot on the 86th minute which went very close. On the 90th minute Siggiewi had their best chance of the match but Farrugia shot off target from the box.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin, N. Galea, M. Camilleri, M. Bajada, E. Cutajar, K. Buhagiar, E. Bugeja, R. Farrugia, M. Vella (M.Deguara), J. Vassallo (A.Shkjan)

Zebbug: J. Mercieca, M.Brincat, N. Caruana, J. Mercieca, L. Cumbo, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, J. Felice, J. Agius (D.D’Agostino), U. Anywanwu, C. Ciappara (B.Chetcuti)

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu

Mellieha 5

Senglea A 0

Mellieha demolished Senglea Athletic scoring five goals in the process, in a one way traffic affair.

Tiago Loquete scored a hat trick in Mellieha’s impressive display, as the Blues are now one of the favourites to gain promotion to First Divison football.

Senglea created the first danger with a powerful Emeka header, but a minute later Mellieha were in front when Wayne Borg St John missiled home from the edge of the area.

Three minutes later Mellieha doubled the score when Loquete started his five-star display, dribbling past a couple of defenders before beating Attard from an acute angle.

Senglea went out determined in the second half and could have pulled one back through one of their best players Emeka. But Mellieha put their minds at rest on 64 minutes when Loquete finished off in style another another good Mellieha move.

Five minutes later Loquete sealed his hat trick when he beat Attard with a low shot following another impressive run. Eleven minutes from time Senglea’s misery was complete when Phil Taylor beat Attard for the fifth and final time following a good move between Loquete and William Borg.

Mellieha: S. Gauci, M. Borg, W. Butigieg, L. Cauchi, M. Vella, P. Taylor, W. Borg, K. Fenech, W. Borg St. John (K. Simiana), M. Vella (R. Perkins), T. Loquete.

Senglea A: G. Attard, R. Tanti (J. Abela), C. Borg, S. Calleja, J. Alegbe, D. Grech (B. Zerafa), A. Sciortino, K. Galea (O. Rababbah), C. Caruana, R. Micallef, J.R. Emeka.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

San Gwann 0

Luqa SA 0

San Gwann and Luqa settled for an interesting scoreless draw to remain unbeaten after two matches. The match was played at a fast pace but to be fair both teams lacked scoring punch.

The first half was a balanced affair with very few scoring chances. San Gwann had more of the ball and created the best chances, but Luqa never gave away an inch. On 20 minutes Chris Pace went close for San Gwann with his shot on the turn well saved by Paul Psaila.

Just before the break San Gwann had their best chance when Keith Vella rounded a defender before hitting at goal, but his effort missed the target by a whisker.

In the second period, Luqa came more in the picture, and both sides had their fair of scoring opportunities. However both goalkeepers were determined to keep a clean sheet, and they finally succeeded.

S. Gwann: C. Carbonaro, K. Vella, M. Francica, D. Cosaitis, S. Vella (M. Axiaq), P. Xuereb, C. Pace, A. Borg, C. Cacciattolo (G. Agius), R. Zammit, C. Cuschieri (Q. Bregman).

Luqa SA: P. Psaila, R. Penza, J. Fenech, A. Psaila, D. Agius (M. Ciantar), F. Cauchi, M. Camilleri (C. Caruana), J. Good (L. Vella), L. Baldacchino, R. Debattista, A. Abdilla.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

In the other matches, Gzira United obtained their second win, beating Msida St Joseph 2-0, while Gudja United defeated Attard comfortably 4-1.

Gzira’s goals were scored by Matthew Cocks and Simon Shead.

Trevor Thomas (2), Aaron Guazzo and Marko Milutinovic were Gudja’s scorers.