Attard 2

St Venera 0

Attard registered their first win this season when they triumphed over St Venera 2-0. Attard were the better team throughout the 90 minutes, and when one considers Attard’s shots on target, the score could have been much higher.

Attard opened the scoring in the 27th minute thanks to Owen Tabone, who beat Cuschieri with a powerful shot from a direct freekick.

St Venera commenced the second half on the attack, and tried to pose some resistance to the opponents. In the 51st minute, Zammit’s shot missed the post by a whisker.

Seven minutes later, Galea’s low strike was converted into a corner by St Venera’s goalkeeper, with the aid of the post.

In the 72nd minute, Galea threatened St Venera’s defence once again, when after going past three defenders, Cuschieri punched the ball away, not allowing Galea to strike the ball home.

Yet five minutes later, Darren Galea’s efforts were rewarded when, after receiving from Zahra, he put the ball at the back of the net, sealing Attard’s three points.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Taliana, J. Onova, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili, R. Carbonaro, J. Zammit, D. Mercieca

Attard: R. J. Ubbergen, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, A. Agius, D. Gauci, J. C. Cachia, D. Galea, R. Filipov, K. Zahra, D. Traykov, K. Said

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Zebbug 1

Kirkop 1

Zebbug and Kirkop obtained a point each in a very exciting duel, where both teams scored in the last ten minutes of the match.

Zebbug were close to open the scoring on the half hour mark, when following a good run from the centre of the pitch, Mercieca’s effort went inches wide.

Five minutes before the break, Kirkop had their chance to take the lead, when Pisani’s powerful strike from a direct free kick hit the crossbar.

Eventually Kirkop hit home four minutes before stoppage time, when Rumen Kerekov’s header beat the Zebbug goalkeeper.

But when all seemed that the three points were going Kirkop’s way, Zebbug scored the equaliser thanks to a powerful strike by Uchenna Anyanwu in the fourth minute of added time.

Zebbug: James Mercieca, Joseph Mercieca (B. Chetcuti), M. Brincat, G. Mallia, J. Spiteri, M. Farrugia, N. Caruana, R. Spiteri, M. Tirchett, C. Ciappara (J. Gerada), U. Anyanwu

Kirkop: D. Pryke, C. Farrugia, A. Busuttil, B. Falzon, I. Stankavic, R. Kerekov, D. Zammit (O. Buhagiar), P. P. Cassar, M. Pisani, T. Bonnici, B. Bugeja

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu

Gudja 2

Msida SJ 0

Gudja secured their third consecutive victory this season by beating Msida 2-0, with a very solid performance.

In fact, they dominated throughout the entire match. Sammut was a continuous threat to the Msida defence, and had numerous opportunities to increase the score.

Gudja took the lead nine minutes into the match, when following a good run along the left flank, Bilocca crossed towards Elton Bugeja who tapped the ball into the net.

Barely ten minutes later, Sammut was close to beating Msida’s goalkeeper, when following a good run, his shot from outside the penalty area went inches wide.

The second half saw very few efforts on Msida’s side, and Gudja doubled their lead in the 70th minute, when Jeffrey Mallia beat Agius with a splendid shot from outside the box.

This was the third loss for Msida and, apart had it not been for the unexpected win over Mellieha in their last match, they would still be without a point so far this season.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, J. Mallia, E. Vella, J. Tonna, M. Milutinovic, W. Camenzuli, E. Gauci, E. Bugeja, I. Bilocca (G. Cutajar), A. Guazzo (E. Thorthon), P. P. Sammut (D. Zammit)

Msida: J. Agius, G. Refalo, O. Zammit, L. Cassar, M. Clarke, W. A. Cosenza Quiah (M. Crupi), M. Busuttil, A. Pirrone, A. Dalli (R. Xuereb), F. D. De Andrade

Referee: Marco Borg

Gharghur 3

Zurrieq 0

Gharghur gained an important three points when they defeated Zurrieq 3-0.

They delivered a very promising performance and dominated throughout the match. Zurrieq were at a disadvantage as they had to play 70 minutes with 10 players.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Gharghur took the lead thanks to John Nwoba who, after recieving from Perry Acton, beat Vella with a header.

Zurrieq were down to 10 men in the 20th minute when Joseph Lia was sent off for dissent.

Ten minutes into the second half, Chris Vella doubled the lead for Gharghur, when he beat the goalkeeper with a low shot from outside the penalty area.

In the 80th minute, Gharghur sealed the match thanks to a header by Benjamin Perry Action on a corner by Antignolo.

Five minutes before stoppage time, Gharghur were awarded a penalty for the goalkeeper’s foul on Diansand Brincat. From the spot, it was the same Brincat who saw his shot being punched away.

Zurrieq: R. Vella, D. Bellizzi, K. Sacco, D. Bonnici, J. Lia, K. Agius, Josef Briffa, Johan Briffa, D. Harallamp, A. Camilleri

Gharghur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, C. Farrugia, R. Debattista, J. Debattista, E. Lapira, C. Vella, B. Antignolo, J. Nwoba, R. Gravata, B. Perry Acton

Referee: Mohammed Kalil

Siggiewi 1

Senglea 0

Siggiewi registered a very important three points in their duel against Senglea, when they beat the team from Cottonera with one goal to nil, thanks to a penalty scored just five minutes before stoppage time, during which action Alegbe for Senglea was sent off.

The first half saw little action on both sides, where both sides struggled to construct an attack and pose any threat to either goalkeeper.

The match came to life in the last 15 minutes of play, where Siggiewi were continuously on the attack. In the 85th minute, Camilleri’s powerful shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, with the goalkeeper punching the ball away.

A minute later, Siggiewi’s Camilleri made a powerful run through the middle of Senglea’s defence, going past goalkeeper Attard. He directed the ball towards the unguarded net, with the ball being cleared away from the goal line by John Alegbe, aided by his outstretched right-arm. Referee Portelli sent off Alegbe for handling, and from the spot, it was the same Jason Camilleri who scored the winner for Siggiewi.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, S. Delia, N. Galea, E. Vella, M. Bajada, M. Camilleri, E. Cutajar, E. Bugeja, R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo

Senglea: G. Attard, R. Tanti, M. Ciappara, S. Vella, J. Alegbe, A. Sciortino, J. Buttigieg, R. Micallef, C. Caruana, G. Brincat, J. R. Emeka

Referee: Luke Portelli

Gzira 2

Luqa 0

Gzira won their third match beating Luqa St Andrews 2-0. After a boring first half, Gzira improved their play and took control of the pitch. This was their first defeat for Luqa after three good results.

The first half was very quiet with no real action towards their respective posts. An important factor was the condition of the pitch which made the style of play more difficult. The referee Stefan Pace had a tougher match to control because of the condition of the pitch.

Gzira had their first chance after 55 minutes when a shot from Simon Shead was saved without any difficulty from Psaila. A minute later Gzira had a good chance when a cross from Ewurum found Simon Shead but his header was bravely saved by Psaila.

On the 63rd minute Gzira went close again when Psaila turned into a corner a good shot from Ewurum. From the same corner Gzira took the lead. Following White’s cross, Simon Shead headed home.

On the 80th minute Gzira doubled the score. It was another corner from White with Rudi Alinho scoring with a good header.

Four minutes later Gzira had another two actions from Hussey and White with White’s shot was going off target while Hussey’s shot was saved by Psaila.

In the dying moments Yanis Tonna also had a chance to make itthree but his shot was cleared by Adrian Psaila.

Gzira: S. Agius, A. Ewurum (P. Camilleri), S. Shead, A. Galea, S. Pace, A . White, J. Hussey, R. Alinho, M. Cocks (K. Bonello), R. Deguara (Y. Tonna), T. Micallef

Luqa: P. Psaila, A. Psaila, M. Camilleri (D. Agius), S. Costa Brazilino, A. Abdilla, C. Caruana, L. Baldacchino, J. Good (M. Ciantar), F. Cauchi, C. Gatt, L. Vella

Referee: Stefan Pace

Mellieha 2

San Gwann 1

Mellieha grabbed their third win of the season after they beat San Gwann 2-1.

It was a well deserved result for Mellieha who were clearly the better team on the field of play. For San Gwann this was their first defeat after a win and two draws.

Mellieha went close to open the score on the 4th minute - Kyle Simiana’s shot on the volley hit the post. They went close again four minutes later when a shot from Wayne Borg St John from outside the box hit the post.

Mellieha went ahead on the 21st minute when William Borg recieved a good pass and, after beating goalkeeper Carbonaro, managed to put the ball past two defenders with a low diagonal shot.

The first shot for San Gwann came on the half hour mark from James Borg, but it went off target. The Saints had a good chance to equalise when a cross from Chris Cacciatolo was met with a good header by Kalenga but his header went a bit wide.

On the 43rd minute Mellieha had a free-kick which was taken by Phill Taylor but the latter’s shot went off target.

On the 46th minute substitute Baldassere Borg went close with a good header for San Gwann. On the hour mark Mellieha went very close to double. It was a good free-kick from Keith Fenech that found David Cauchi but his header went wide.

On the 80th minute San Gwann were reduced to 10 men after Kevin Cassar was sent off for a double yellow card after fouling Wayne Borg St John. From the same free-kick, Wayne Borg St John hit the post for the second time, but from the rebound, Kyle Simiana hit home from close range.

On the 86th minute Carbonaro saved a good shot from Phil Taylor. In stoppage time San Gwann reduced the gap from Shawn Vella but it wasn’t enough.

Mellieha: J. Abela, M. Vella, W. Buttigieg, L. Cauchi, D. Cauchi (M .Abela) P. Taylor, W. Borg, K. Fenech, R. Perkins, W. Borg st.John (M. Vella), K. Simiana.

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, K. Cassar, Q. Bregman, M. Francica (M. Axiaq), G. Agius, J. Borg (S. Vella), A. Borg, C. Cacciatolo, C. Pace, C. Cuschieri (B Borg), K. Ndayi.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut.