Zurrieq 1

Zebbug R. 3

Zebbug Rangers achieved their first victory for the season against Zurrieq after suffering two losses and three draws.

The Rangers dominated during the whole 90 minutes and the players were very coordinated in their passes. Although Zurrieq had a good start, Zebbug Rangers rarely gave them the opportunity to advance towards their net.

The yellows took the lead on the 41st minute in an interesting action where Joseph Mercieca’s free kick found Roderick Spiteri, whose shot was partially saved by Zurrieq’s goalkeeper Rodrick Vella, and Uchenna Anyanwu scored with a low shot from the rebound.

On the 54th minute, Zebbug Rangers doubled their score with Gordon Mallia’s direct free kick. Sixteen minutes later, Zebbug Rangers achieved their third goal when Uchenna Anyanwu double was scored following Gordon Mallia’s cross from within the penalty area.

Zurrieq minimised the gap three minutes from time when Rangers’ goalkeeper James Mercieca did not clear properly after leaving his position, and Dupi Harallamb took the opportunity and blasted home with a low shot. However this came late in the match and it was not enough for Zurrieq to save the match.

Zurrieq: R. Vella, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, K. Sacco, J. Lia, N. Abdilla, J. Briffa, J. Briffa (A. Portelli), D. Bonnici (V. Micallef), M. Genuis (D. Harallamb), A. Camilleri

Zebbug R.: J. Mercieca, G. Mallia, M. Brincat, J. Mercieca, D. Agius, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, B. Chetcuti (J. Agius), D. D’Agostino, U. Anyanwu (D. Caruana), M. Tirchett (D. Farrugia)

Referee: Andrew James Sammut

Siggiewi 1

San Gwann 1

Another keenly contested match was that between Siggiewi and San Gwann ending in a draw. So far, Siggiewi have achieved a total of nine points whereas San Gwann have six points.

Both teams played well throughout the whole match: however, in the first half scoring opportunities were rare from both ends. Chris Ciacciattolo’s two free kicks for San Gwann were both saved by Siggiewi’s goalkeeper Jonathan Vella.

On the 37th minute, San Gwann could have taken the lead when they were granted a penalty due to a foul committed by Siggiewi’s Mario Bajada on Shawn Vella. However Shawn Vella’s low central shot was saved by goalkeeper Vella of Siggiewi.

Siggiewi dominated during the second half. But it was San Gwann who opened the score on the 57th minute when SHAWN VELLA’s angled shot from close range went past goalkeeper Vella.

Siggiewi equalised on the 68th minute when Roderick Farrugia, running off from the centre of the ground, found San Gwann’s defence lacking, to beat goalkeeper Claude Carbonaro.

In the last few minutes, Siggiewi pressed more for another goal but their efforts were in vain.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin, N. Galea, E. Vella (E. Ciappara), M. Bajada, E. Bugeja, E. Cutajar, M. Camilleri, R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri, J. Shead

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, Q. Bregman, D. Cosaitis, K. Vella, G. Agius, P. Xuereb, A. Borg, N. Kalenga (D. Borg), C. Ciaccattolo (M.Asciak), C. Pace (C. Cuschieri), S. Vella.

Referee: Stefan Pace

Mellieha 4

Luqa 1

Mellieha won their fourth match after they managed to beat Luqa with a convincing performance. After Luqa took the lead, Jo Jo Bajada’s team took the match in their hands and dominated where they scored two goals.

Luqa opened the tie on the fifth minute when Lee Baldacchino caught Simon Gauci off guard and with a low shot put past Gauci. On the 22nd minute Mellieha were given a penalty when Adrian Psaila fouled Loquete in the box with referee Jude Utulu giving a penalty. From the spot Philip Taylor converted.

Ten minutes later Mellieha took the lead. It was a very good pass from Wayne Borg St John to Tiago Loquete who rounded Psaila and put the ball into the net. On the 40th minute a shot from Philip Taylor went wide.

On the 53rd minute a shot from Loquete went wide. Mellieha made them three on the 62nd minute. William Borgset Philip Taylor who scored a beautiful goal after letting the ball bounce once.

Three minutes later, a cross from William Borg found Wayne Borg St John but his first timer went wide.

On the 72nd minute a Loquete shot from an ideal position was off target.

Ten minutes from time Mellieha scored another goal. It was a cross from David Cauchi that met Wayne Borg St John who headed past Psaila

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

Luqa: P .Psaila, A. Psaila, C. Caruana, G. Frendo, L. Baldacchino, A. Abdilla, C. Gatt, R. Penza (L. Vella), F. Cauchi, S. Brazilino (D.Agius), J. Camilleri.

Referee: Jude Utulu

St Venera 2

Msida 1

St Venera won their third seasonal match after they came from behind to beat Msida St Joseph 2-1. With this win St Venera are on nine points against the six points Msida.

After only one minute Msida hit the crossbar when a free-kick from De Andrade was saved by Cuschieri with the ball hitting the crossbar.

On the 16th minute Msida went in front. A free-kick from Alistair Dalli was cleared twice by the St Venera defenceand it was Matthew Borda who came in and scored.

Eight minutes later Msida went close when another free-kick from Alistair Dalli almost shocked Cuschieri but managed to tip into a corner.

On the 35th minute Pirrone lobbed the ball on Cuschieri but Mark Muscat cleared off the line.

On the 43rd minute St Venera equalised. It was a good action with the first shot from Andrew Hili hitting the post, the second was saved by Agius and from the rebound Glenn Micallef scored.

On the 61st minute St Venera went close from Dylan Mercieca but his shot was turned into a corner by Agius. Four minutes later St Venera took the lead. It was a free-kick from half ground that bounced once and John Onuoha came in and his head lobbed over Agius.

On the 75th minute Msida hit the crossbar when a free-kick from De Andrade, was saved partially by Cuschieri with the ball hitting the crossbar.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Onuoha, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia (E. Muscat), K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili (D. Wingfield), R. Carbonaro, R. Borg, D. Calleja, D. Mercieca.

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, R. Zammit, M. Clarke, A. Dalli (M. Pisani), D. Attard, M. Borda, M. Crupi (M. Curtis), A. Pirrone, F. De Andrade, O. Zammit (R. Xuereb)

Referee: Roberto Vella

Gharghur 1

Attard 1

High flying Gharghur were surprisingly held by Attard in an interesting match played in front of a good-sized crowd.

Gharghur were the better team and had more scoring opportunites than their opponents who played a very good match, never giving away an inch.

Gharghur made the early running with shots from Iro Curmi and Ruben Gravata slightly missing the target. On 33 minutes John Nwoba missed a sitter all alone in front of goal.

Just before the break Attard broke the deadlock against the run of play when Kurt Zahra scored after pouncing on a rebound following a corner action.

In the second half Gharghur increased the pressure in search of the equaliser but had to wait till 10 minutes from time to reach their goal when Ryan Debattista headed home an Antignolo freekick.

Gharghur: D. Zarb, R. Debattista, C. Farrugia, H. Gatt Bonello (R. Mifsud), J. Debattista, E. Lapira (K. Azzopardi), I. Curmi, B. Antignolo, J. Nwoba, R. Gravata, B. Perry Alton (C. Vella)

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

Referee: Luke Portelli

Kirkop 1

Senglea A. 4

Bottom of the table Senglea Athletic obtained their first victory of the season when they demolished Kirkop scoring four goals in the process.

Although the result is a surprising, Senglea fully deserved the victory as they dominated from start to finish. The side from Cottonera was two goals up inside the first 20 minutes with goals from John Alegbe and Glenn Brincat with two great shots from the edge of the area.

Senglea continued to dictate matters and could have added a third on the hour through a Clayton Caruana effort. On 62 minutes Kirkop were back in business when substitute Christian Mifsud reduced the arrears.

But their joy was shortlived as a minute later Senglea re-established their two-goal lead when Glenn Brincat obtained his brace.

Fifteen minutes from the final whistle Jon Roland Emeka sealed the issue with the fourth and final goal.

Kirkop: D. Pryke, C. Farrugia (L. Zammit), M. Pisani, A. Busuttil, B. Falzon, O. Buhagiar (C. Mifsud), I. Stankovic, R. Kerekov, J. Attard (F. Caruana), D. Zammit, B. Bugeja.

Senglea A: G. Attard, B. Zerafa, M. Ciappara, A. Sciortino, J. Abela, J. Alegbe, J. Buttigieg, R. Micallef (R. tanti), C. Caruana, G. Brincat, J.R. Emeka (K. Galea)

Referee: Duncan Sultana