Qrendi 0

Ghaxaq 1

Ghaxaq consolidated the second place when they managed to beat Qrendi albeit with some difficulty. Paul Bugeja decided the affair with his goal. The game was very boring and there were very few opportunities on target.

Ghaxaq went close to take the lead on the first opportunity of the game when on the 24th minute a shot from Coleiro was deflected into a corner.

On the 38th minute a free-kick from Silvano Pace was easily saved by Ghaxaq goalkeeper Verbina. Ghaxaq took the lead a minute later when Paul Bugeja put past Zammit with a low shot.

On the 52nd minute Brain Zammit turned into a corner a free-kick from Matthew Coleiro. On the 79th minute a central shot from Charlo Debattista was saved easily by Verbina.

On the 90th minute a free-kick from Dalli was punched by Zammit. Two minutes later substitute Caruana tried his luck but his shot was turned into a corner by Zammit.

Qrendi: B. Zammit, A. Formosa, B. Demicoli, A. Muscat, G. Azzopardi, G. Saliba, S. Pace, M. Ellul, M. Farrugia, R. Darmanin, J. Camilleri

Ghaxaq: J. Verbina, C. Xuereb, E. Dimech, M. Coleiro, M. Axiaq, P. Bugeja, M. Ellul, M. Grech, F. Galea, B. Parnis, B. Dalli

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

Marsascala 0

Mgarr 1

Mgarr climbed into sixth place when they beat Marsascala 1-0. Mgarr had to fight hard to win because the southern seasiders tried till the end to save at least a point but the Mgarr defence held on.

The first action came from Marsascala when on the 4th minute a free-kick from Slavchev was saved by Borg. On the 14th minute Mgarr went close when a through-pass found Chris Abela but his shot went very close to the post of Peplow.

On the 32nd minute a shot from Domenicus was saved with no problem from Borg. Four minutes later Mgarr hit the post through a close range shot from Gordon Said.

On the 38th minute a shot from Mark Deguara went off target. Mgarr looked in control of the game and on the 41st minute a shot from Matthew Muscat went close again.

On the 58th minute Peplow turned into a corner a free-kick from Chris Abela. Mgarr were given a penalty when on the 63rd minute Mark Pace touched the ball with his hands. Mark Deguara converted from the spot.

In the last minutes of the match Marsascala tried to save a point but the Mgarr defence held on to earn three important points.

Marsascala: J. Peplow, N. Slavchev, S. Saliba, J. Scicluna, M. Pace, J. Galdes, P. Carabott, D. Iount, H. Pace, A. Domenicus, M. Said

Mgarr: J. Borg, J. Ebejer, J. Said, W. Camilleri, G. Said, C. Tabone, J. Gauci (P. Fenech), M. Deguara, C. Abela, K. Vella (R. Marmara), M. Muscat (M. Psaila)

Referee: Keith Buhagiar

Pembroke A. 1

Marsa 0

Pembroke kept their position on top of the table after registering another win this season against Marsa: the latter are still searching for their first win of the season.

Pembroke won thanks to Daniel Cremona who scored their only goal while Demis Grima’s efforts were crucial for Marsa - he saved many of Pembroke’s attempts.

During the first 45 minutes, Pembroke were persistently attacking the Marsa goal; however they never managed to go past the Red Blues’ defence.

On the 34th minute, Pembroke’s Lydon Cilia’s shot from a notable distance ended wide. Three minutes later, Pembroke missed again when Matthew Borg concluded high and wide.

Marsa improved their tactics during the second half but this was not enough as Pembroke were even more insidious than before.

On the 58th minute, Vojko Martinovic’s low and central free kick beat the barrier but ended wide. The Athleta efforts were rewarded on the 71st minute when substitute Daniel Cremona blasted at an angle past Marsa’s goalkeeper Demis Grima.

Pembroke A.: R. Debattista, N. Coleiro Gatt, A. Galea (D. Cremona), J.C. Borg, L. Cilia, V. Martinovic, C. Leonardi (L. Grech), M. Borg (D. Calleja Cremona), J. Mifsud, R. Caruana, G. Spiteri

Marsa: D. Grima, K. Camilleri, S. Cutajar, D. Chircop, S. Grech, J. P. Zammit, E. Camilleri, E. Vella, J. Camilleri, F. Fenech (M. Mifsud) (W. Debattista), K. Brincat (Y. Abdullahi)

Referee: Pierre Azzopardi

Kalkara 1

Xghajra T. 2

Xghajra Tornados emerged winners in their confrontation with Kalkara thanks to their two foreign players, placing them seventh with 15 points in the table.

Xghajra dominated most of the match and ended with 10 players towards the end. Both teams never reached a high level of play.

The Tornadoes opened the score on the 9th minute when Martin Nosko shot past Kalkara’s goalkeeper Fulvio Azzopardi.

Kalkara equalised 10 minutes later when Clayton Spitieri took the opportunity and fired in an empty net when Xghajra’s goalkeeper Roderick Camilleri left his position. Xghajra’s Milan Polonec missed a good opporunity during injury time when Azzopardi tipped off his central free kick.

On the 71st minute, Xghajra achieved the winning goal when Christian Magro’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was partially saved by goalkeeper Azzopardi and Milan Polonec concluded with an angled shot from close range.

In stoppage time, Xghajra’s Michael Magro was sent off after committing a foul on Kalkara’s Clayton Spiteri.

Kalkara: F. Azzopardi, S. Camilleri, M. Agius, C. Cachia, D. Mifsud, A. Musha, S. Cuccardi, M. Cassar (C. Micallef), J. Camilleri (C. Tabone), G. Azzopardi (J. Cassar), C. Spiteri.

Xghajra T.: R. Camilleri, S. Camilleri, M. Leonardi, M. Magro, C. Magro, B. Magro, A. Vella (L. Grech), A. Manaf, M. Polonec (D. Axisa), M. Nosko, F. Mizzi.

Referee: Darryl Agius

Mtarfa 0

Swieqi 1

Mtarfa and Swieqi offered a very disappointing match in which both teams lacked skills and did not give their utmost - scoring chances throughout the whole 90 minutes were minimal.

During the first 45 minutes, the game was mainly played in midfield with no one trying to advance towards the opponents’ net. The players lacked coordination and neither team had ball possession for much long.

The situation remained practically the same throughout the rest of the match.

The only three attempts made were Mtarfa’s Dragan Galic’s free kick on the 54th minute which ended wide and Luke Fenech’s shot for Swieqi on the 58th which was saved by Mtarfa’s goalkeeper Karl Sammut.

On the 60th minute, Luke Fenech’s cross went in the direction of Steve Diacono whose heeled shot ended wide.

Swieqi luckily gained three points from the match only eight minutes from time when Swieqi’s Fabian Diacono’s shot was partially saved by Mtarfa goalkeeper and from the rebound, substitute Simon Psaila concluded with a nice central shot.

Mtarfa: K. Sammut, C. Calleja, J. Azzopardi (P. Azzopardi), J. Fenech, R. Sammut, E. Falzon, F. Azzopardi (A. Micallef), D. Galic, R. Zammi, G.P. Ciantar, A. Wingfield.

Swieqi: L. Bugeja, J. Pace, C. Dalli (N. Zammit), S. Borg, B. Buhagiar, C. Micallef, L. Fenech (S. Psaila), S. Diacono, F. Debono (J. Debono), E. Sciberras, T. Hampton.

Referee: Chris Lautier