Zejtun   4

Gzira Utd    0

After this easy win against Gzira, Zejtun lead the standings on maximum points from six games.

They fully deserved the verdict as they were the more methodical outfit. Their positional play and passing were a delight to watch. Gzira were rarely in the game.

Zejtun created the first action. A cross-shot from the right by Karl Attard was partly cleared and Luca Camilleri missed the upright from the rebound with Gzira keeper Glenn Zammit beaten.

At the other end, Michael Galea served Kyle De Leonardo in the area but a defender managed to clear the ball to a corner

Another three actions were mounted by Zejtun. Margeith Scicluna was fouled on the left flank and Zammit saved the free kick by Eman Camillieri and later saved a header by Attard after a Camilleri flag kick. He also turned the ball to a corner on a shot by Attard after a Josvel Spiteri through pass in the area.

In the 21st minute Zejtun took the lead. Bennett Schembri floated a perfect high ball in the area from a free kick and Kyle Sultana shot past Zammit.

In a Gzira action, Kurt Attard served Josef Galea on the left flank but the ball finished over the bar from his cross-shot.

The score became 2-0 on the half hour when Luca Camilleri was fouled on the right flank and after the free kick by Schembri created havoc in Gzira area, Luke Spagnol scored with a low shot.

Gzira created the last two actions before the break. Nick Zahra was fouled on the right flank and the ball was headed away after the free kick by Matthew Sciberras.

Galea was then fouled on the left flank and the ball was also cleared away from the free kick by Camilleri.

Zejtun mounted the first action after the restart. Spiteri served Luca Camilleri in the area and Zammit foiled him with a timely sortie.

In a Gzira reaction, Dylan Ciantar missed the upright with a header after a Lydin Camilleri flag kick.

Zejtun scored their third goal in the 53rd minute when Spagnol served Juan Gatt with a through pass. The latter entered the area after out-speeding a defender and scored with a low shot.

Three minutes later the score became 4-0 when Luca Camilleri chased what looked like a lost ball on the right flank, entered the area after out-speeding a defender and netted with a low hard shot.

In the 61st minute Zejtun were reduced to 10 men. Dylan Ciantar served Lydin Camilleri with a through ball in the area and as Zejtun keeper Kurt Bonnett came out to neutralise the ball he fisted Lydin Camilleri. Alert referee Luke Portelli showed him the red card for deliberately striking an opponent.

The Maroons kept trying. A flag kick by De Leonardo was partly cleared and the rebound by Zahra was saved by substitute keeper Sean Parnis who also saved a free kick by substitute Salvatore Grixti after Lydin Camilleri was fouled outside the area.

Referee: Luke Portelli

Player of the match: Margeith Scicluna (Zejtun) 

Under 15 Section B

Mosta beat Gozo and move to second place

Mosta  1

Gozo   0

After this win, Mosta moved to second place on 19 points from eight games while the Gozitans are in fifth position on 15 points, also from eight games.

Gozo enjoyed the lion’s share of the exchanges in the first period while it was a balanced affair after the resumption.

The first action came from Mosta as they won a corner kick on the left flank which was well-taken by Zachary Chircop. It created havoc in Gozo’s area but somehow they managed to clear the ball away to safety.

The Gozitans then mounted three actions in a row. Stefan Cassar released Lukas Cefai on the right flank and the ball finished over the bar from his cross-shot.

Juan Hili then released Cefai on the right flank who then crossed to Cassar in the area but the latter headed out from a very ideal position. Later, from a flag kick by Cassar, Daniel Borg headed out from inside the area. 

Mosta created the first two actions after the restart. Marlon Sammut pounced on a defensive indecision and missed the upright from the edge of the area while Timothy Muscat served Sammut with a square pass and drove slightly out from inside the area.

Gozo reacted by creating two actions. Joshua Buttigieg received the ball from a long drop-kick by keeper Lorjean Xuereb who, after entering the area, saw Mosta keeper Luke Chircop partly saving his shot and a defender clearing the ball away to safety.

After a flag kick by Cassar, Daniel Borg drove over the bar from inside the area. 

Mosta then won a free kick on the right flank which was taken by Buttigieg and Chircop saved his shot.

In the 55th minute Mosta took the lead when Chircop served Sammut with a through ball who, after entering the area, shot past Xuereb with a low diagonal shot.

In the 67th minute Sammut served Chircop in the area with a high through ball and as the Gozo keeper managed to neutralise the ball he deliberately kicked Chircop. Assistant Stefan Pace, rightly so, attracted the referee’s attention by raising his flag and after consulting him the official awarded a penalty for Mosta. Everybody was expecting the refreee to show the red card to Xuereb for deliberate kicking, but to the surprise of all present, the referee did not even show him a yellow card. The spot kick was taken by Chircop and Xuereb saved the penalty in two attempts.

The last action before the end was created by Gozo as Cefai served Hili in the area and Luke Chircop saved his close-range shot.

Referee: Ivan Galea

Player of the match: Zachary Chircop (Mosta)