Mgarr 1

Fgura 0

Mgarr won their second match when they beat Fgura 1-0.

It was a close affair with Fgura being the better side after they conceded the only goal of the match. Ironically both teams missed a penalty.

Mgarr went ahead on the 11th minute. It was a corner from Russell Marmara on the first post that found Chris Tabone and with a good header managed to beat Attard.

Fgura replied on the 24th minute when a free-kick from Matthew Spiteri went off target. Mgarr had a good opportunity when they were awarded a penalty after a foul from Calvagna but Malcolm Bugeja’s shot hit the post.

On the 44th minute the Mgarr defence cleared off a corner from Fgura with the ball going to Vincent Camilleri but the latter’s shot from outside the box was well off target

Fgura had a great chance of equalising when Gordon Said fouled Calvagna in the box for a penalty but Simon Aqulina also missed from the spot.

On the 61st minute Fgura’s Lydon Vella had a shot cleared off the line. Mgarr could have doubled the score on the 65th minute when Chris Abela’s shot was saved partially by Attard, but Gauci missed from the rebound.

Mgarr were reduced to 10 men when Gordon Said was sent off. Fgura again failed to equalise on the 81st minute when Michael Zammit missed a great opportunity from an ideal position

Mgarr: J. Borg, M. Mifsud, M. Bugeja (J. Ebejer), W. Camilleri, G. Said, C. Tabone, S. Camilleri, P. Fenech (K. Vella), R. Marmara, J. Gauci (G. Theuma), C. Abela

Fgura: R. Attard, S. Aquilina, C. Calvagna, V. Camilleri (J. Gheiti), R. Galea (S. Pace), M. Portelli, R. Severino, M. Sammut (T. Gheiti), M. Spiteri, L. Vella, M. Zammit

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Marsa 1

Sirens 2

Sirens won their first match this season after they managed to beat Marsa 2-1. For Marsa, this was their first defeat after taking a point in their first outing.

Sirens went in front on the ninth minute when Giovanni Galea managed to beat the offside trap and with a low shot managed to put his team ahead. Marsa replied three minutes later with the equalising goal.

It was Kevin Scerri who scored from a direct free-kick from the side. On the half hour, Marsa had a free-kick from Kevin Scerri but the header from Abdullahi went a bit wide.

Sirens took the lead again on the 38th minute thanks to Giovanni Galea. Kevin Scerri tried to equalise again from a direct free-kick but Vella turned the ball into a corner.

On the 48th minute Marsa had a shot from Philip Chircop but Vella saved. Giovanni Galea tried to score his third goal but had his shot turned into a corner on the 67th minute. Marsa were very close to equalise when on the 72th minute Philip Chircop’s shot hit the post.

Marsa: K. Brincat, B. Zammit, S. Cutajar, K. Cremona, L. Bugeja, K. Scerri, P. Chircop, J. Camilleri (M. Scerri), Y. Abdullahi, E. Vella, K. Zammit (M. Mifsud)

Sirens: J. Vella, D. Sant, C. Agius, J. Grech, G. Magri, G. Vella, S. Pisani (J. Camilleri), K. Bonavia, G. Galea, C. Pickard (G. Falzon), G. Gauci

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Swieqi Utd 0

Ghaxaq 2

Ghaxaq registered their first win of the season beating Swieqi United, who in their first match had held Fgura to a 2-2 draw. It was a keenly contested match, with both sides finishing the match with 10 players.

Ghaxaq took the lead on 15 minutes when Bjorn Dalli beat goalkeeper Luca Bugeja with a cross shot from the edge of the area. Three minutes later Swieqi went close with a Debono freekick.

Although Ghaxaq ended up with ten players in the first half when Matthew Axiaq was sent off due to bad behaviour, Ghaxaq still managed to double the score on the 37th minute. The action started with a free kick where the ball hit the post, and from the rebound, Leonard Alla scored with a low shot.

Swieqi United tried to rally in the second half but their efforts where unsuccessful.

In the 74th minute, Christian’s Micallef free kick was saved by Ghaxaq’s goalkeeper Julian Verbina. The same Verbina charged out of position to save Eric Sciberras’ attempt.

In the second half, Peter Spiteri of Swieqi United was sent off after earning his second warning. This proved to be a great handicap for Swieqi who failed to score at least a consolation goal.

Swieqi United: L. Bugeja, B. Buhagiar, C. Dalli (T. Hampton), S. Borg, K. Calleja, P. Spiteri, S. Sammut (C. Micallef), J. Debono (I. Scicluna), F. Debono, E. Sciberras, S. Psaila.

Ghaxaq: J. Verbina, E. Dimech, M. Coleiro (J. Caruana), M. Cassar, M. Axiaq, L. Alla, M. Grech (C. Borg), F. Galea, B. Parnis, A. Caruana (R. D’Amato), B. Dalli.

Referee: Luke Portelli

Kalkara 0

Qrendi 2

Qrendi beat Kalkara 2-0 thanks to two early goals scored inside the first 10 minutes of the match. The result can be considered as fair even though Kalkara deserved something better for their efforts throughout the whole 90 minutes.

Qrendi had an impressive start taking the lead after only eight minutes when Steve Buhagiar received the ball from a throw in from the right and, after controlling the ball, fired at the back of the net.

A minute later Qrendi were on velvet when Aaaron Pendry doubled the score following a fine solo run finished off with a fine shot that beat goalkeeper Fulvio Azzopardi.

Kalkara had several occasions of scoring but not even one of them was converted. In the 13th minute, Matthew Cassar lost an opportunity when he shot high over the bar.

Seven minutes later, Clayton Micallef’s cross towards Clive Grima was diverted by Qrendi’s Darren Caruana. Once again, in the 27th minute, the Stripes’ goalkeeper Brian Zammit tipped off Matthew Cassar’s free kick.

Even though Kalkara had the majority of the ball’s possession in the second half, where Qrendi concentrated more on defence, Kalkara rarely had the opportunity to score.

The last attempt at scoring was and effort by Kalkara’s captain Nicholas Gatt who shot high over the bar in the last five minutes of the match.

Kalkara U: M. Agius, C. Barbara, S. Camilleri (S.Vella), J. Camilleri (C. Zammit), M. Cassar, C. Grima, A. Musha, D. Mifsud, C. Micallef, N. Gatt, F. Azzopardi

Qrendi: B. Zammit, B. Demicoli, A. Buttigieg, P. Muscat, D. Caruana, S. Buhagiar (M. Vujic), O. Camenzuli (F. Galea), R. Darmanin, A. Pendry, C. Debattista, P. Bezzina (M. Farrugia)

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Marsascala 0

Mtarfa 3

Mtarfa took their first three points of the season when they dominated against Marsascala to win with a score of 3-0, with a brace from Ryan Zammit.

Mtarfa had a very positive performance, which gives them hope following their defeat in the preceding match. They took the lead after 20 minutes, when Adam Wingfield beat Peplow with a powerful shot.

Mtarfa were very unlucky when five minutes before the break, Zammit’s header hit the crossbar, with the ball being cleared from the goal-line by Marsascala‘s defence.

Mtarfa’s superiority was more evident in the second half, and in the 50th minute they doubled the lead thanks to Ryan Zammit, who upon receiving from Wingfield, put the ball past Peplow at the back of the net.

Just five minutes later, Mtarfa scored again. After fleeing the Marsascala defence on the right flank, Ryan Zammit beat Peplow for the second time with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.

It was a well deserved win for Mtarfa who dominated throughout the entire match. Marsascala rarely left their half of the pitch and created no scoring opportunities, thus suffering their second consecutive loss this season.

Marsascala: J. Peplow, E. Desira, J. Debono, N. Stoytchev Slavchev, K. Doublet, J. Galdes (S. Sultana), J. Scicluna, D. Falzon, C. Dobre Jonut, G. Azzopardi, P. A. Osman

Mtarfa: D. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, J. P. Ciantar, L. Vella, A. Wingfield, F. Azzopardi, C. Bonello (J. Azzopardi), R. Zammit, S. Peplow

Referee: Pierre Azzopardi

Xghajra 2

St Lucia 1

Xghajra earned their second set of three points when they beat St Lucia 2-1, with the losing side missing a penalty in the first 45 minutes.

St Lucia had a good start, and 15 minutes into the match, they were awarded a penalty for Ali Manif’s handball in the penalty area. From the spot, D’Amato’s shot was saved by Camilleri.

Three minutes before half time, the Saints took the lead thanks to Basil Chibueze, who upon receiving from Spiteri, concluded past the goalkeeper with a low shot.

Xghajra dominated the second half and had a good number of scoring opportunities. Xghajra’s equaliser came in the 70th minute, when a cross by Caruana found Brian Magro beating Carabott with a header.

Barely five minutes later, Xghajra scored again thanks to substitute Neil Attard who fled the St Lucia defence and finished with a powerful shot.

St Lucia’s efforts to level the match proved futile, and Xghajra took the three points home, thus proceeding with their winning streak.

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, A. Muscat, K. Micallef, C. Magro (J. Cachia), A. Vella (M. Leonardi), K. Caruana, A. Manaf, F. Mizzi, L. Grech (N. Attard), G. Saliba, B. Magro

St Lucia: D. Carabott, H. Friggieri, C. Goodrum, J. Galea, M. Spiteri, J. Cutajar (J. Azzopardi), S. D’Amato (E. Aquilina), J. Bugeja, B. Chetcuti, B. Chibueze, J. Woodhead

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo

Pembroke A 1

Mdina K 0

Pembroke registered their second consecutive win of the season beating Mdina Knights in a balanced and keenly contested match. Mdina dominated the match for long stretches especially in the first half and a draw would have been a fairer result.

In the first half an hour Pembroke goalkeeper Matthew Calleja kept his opponents at bay with a string of fine saves. Near the end of the first half Pembroke ventured forward going close with shots from Lydon Cilia.

On 62 minutes Matthew Borg scored what proved to be the winner with a well taken shot from the edge of the area.

Mdina pushed everything forward in the remaining minutes going close on several occasions.

Ten minutes from time Justin Buhagiar’s shot beat the goalkeeper but Jonathan Mifsud cleared off the goal line.

Pembroke were reduced to ten men three minutes from the final whistle when match winner Matthew Borg received the marching orders.

Pembroke A.: M. Calleja, K. Sultana, R. Caruana, M. Mamo, J. Mifsud, V. Martinovic (A. Muscat), A. Galea (L. Grech), G. Spiteri, C. Leonardi, M. Borg, L. Cilia (D. Calleja)

Mdina K.: M. Aquilina, A. Spiteri, K. Formosa, G. Camilleri, N. Toutoungi (T.Fenech), J. Buhagiar, R. Southward, N. Micallef, A. Gatt (A. Catania), A. Buhagiar, M. Saliba (C. Vella)

Referee: Chris Lautier