Gzira 2

Zurrieq 0

Leaders Gzira, still unbeaten this season, had an easy win over Zurrieq winning 2-0, thus holding tight to their place at the summit of the table with 29 points.

Zurrieq on the other hand continue to struggle in the lower end of the grid where, after their second consecutive defeat, they are still with just 12 points.

The match was pretty much one-sided for all its duration, with Gzira dictating play all along. They opened the scoring 27 minutes into the match thanks to Tony Ewrum, who after a good run through Zurrieq’s defence, beat Ellul with a low shot.

Gzira doubled their lead ten minutes after the resumption, when Simon Shead went past two defenders and concluded at the back of the net. Twenty minutes from stoppage time, Gzira had a chance to seal the match, when Cocus’ long-distance drive went slightly high over the crossbar.

Gzira: K. Gerada, K. Cassar, T. Ewrum, Y. Tonna, T. Micallef, A. Galea (A. White), R.A. Goncalves Guilite, J. Hussey, S. Shead, M. Cocus (R. Deguara), K. Saliba (S. Gatt)

Zurrieq: K. Ellul, D. Bonnici, J. Lia (J. Fenech), V. Micallef, K. Sacco, Z. Vukovic, M. Genuis (A. Barbara), J. Briffa, N. Abdilla, A. Portelli (C. Caruana), A. Camilleri

Referee: Paul Caruana

Siggiewi 1

St Venera 1

After having lost their previous four outings, St Venera gained a very important point from their duel against Siggiewi when the match between the two ended in a one-all draw.

Both teams keep struggling in the lower end of the standings, where Siggiewi have a total of 13 points and St Venera have a total of 10 points.

St Venera opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, when fromm a corner, Rudi Carbonaro’s shot found the back of the net.

Siggiewi managed to save the match in the 55th minute thanks to Roderick Farrugia who surprised the Saints’ defence with a powerful shot.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, S. Delia, N. Galea, M. Bajada, D. Vella, M. Camilleri, J. Shead (E. Ciappara), B. Galea (K. Buhagiar), R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo (E. Bugeja)

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

Referee: Stefan Pace

San Gwann 3

Zebbug 3

San Gwann put a stop to Zebbug’s winning streak, who had won their last six outings, when the encounter between the two resulted in a 3-3 draw, where San Gwann managed to save a point despite having been two goals down in the first half.

Zebbug opened the scoring 12 minutes from kick-off, when after recieving from Caruana, Uchenna Anyanwu took San Gwann’s defence by surprise with a low shot. Ten minute before the break, Sonyo Pereira da Mata found himself facing goalkeeper Carbonaro and tapped the ball at the back of the net.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Ryan Sell pulled one back for San Gwann when he beat Mercieca with a low shot. But nine minutes later, Sonyo Pereira da Mata increased his side’s lead once again when his shot from outside the area hit home.

Fifteen minutes from stoppage time, San Gwann reduced the deficit again thanks to Christian Pace who shook the opposing defence with a splendid shot from the middle of the pitch. Two minutes before the final whistle, Ryan Sell saved the important point for San Gwann with a powerful shot from an acute angle.

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, D. Cosaitis, K. Cassar (C. Pace), M. Francica, G. Agius (R. Sell), A. Borg, P. Xuereb, R. Attard, J. Borg, C. Cacciatolo (M. Mercieca), R. Zammit

Zebbug: J. Mercieca, M. Brincat, G. Mallia (D. Agius), J. Mercieca, D. Caruana, R. Spiteri, M. Farrugia, A. Agius (J. Agius), S. Pereira da Mata, U. Anyanwu, M. Tirchett (J. Alegbe)

Referee: Karl Cumbo

Gudja 3

Kirkop 0

Gudja registered their third consecutive win when they defeated Kirkop with the easy tally of 3-0, thus holding on their second plae on the grid with 25 points.

Kirkop on the other hand suffered their fourth consecutive loss, who after having had a good start this season, keep dropping places on the standings.

Gudja opened the scoring four minutes before the break, when a Trevor Thomas powerful effort took Kirkop’s defence by surprise.

William Camenzuli scored twice in the last ten minutes of the match to secure his side’s three points. In the 81st minute, Peter Paul Sammut’s shot was temporarily blocked by goalkeeper Francica, with Camenzuli tapping the ball at the back of the net from the rebound. In the first minute of injury time, Camenzuli’s corner was slightly deflected by defender Cassar and beat Francica for the third time.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, E. Vella, G. Cutajar, M. Milutinovic, D. Agius, K. Bonello (A. Cutajar), E. Bugeja, I. Bilocca, W. Camenzuli, T. Thomas (D. Zammit), P. P. Sammut

Kirkop: C. Francica, M. Pisani, M. Aquilina, A. Busuttil, P. P. Cassar, B. Falzon, B. Bugeja (M. Theuma), C. Farrugia, R. Spina, R. Kerekov, J. Gerada (D. Zammit)

Referee: Luke Portelli

Luqa St.Andrews 2

Senglea Athletic 4

Senglea won their second seasonal match after they managed to beat Luqa St. Andrews 4-2. It was a good display from the Cottonera side who controlled the match after they drew the score.

On the other hand Luqa were disappointing and need to forget this match as soon as possible if they want to survive relegation next season.

Senglea created the first opportunity when after five minutes Paul Psaila turned into a corner a shot from Emeka.

Luqa took the lead on the 16th minute. It was a good action between four players, it was Christian Caruana who crossed a low ball to Jason Good who pulled the ball and beat Bartolo with a low shot.

Luqa went close to double on the half hour mark when Good saw his two shots missed, the first one saved by Bartolo without holding and from the rebound his second shot hit the post.

After this missed chance Senglea levelled the score. It was Rennie Tanti who anticipated Psaila after a good cross from the right.

The Athletic took the lead 10 minutes later. It was a good cross from the left by Jonathan Buttigieg who found Glenn Brincat who although miskicked the ball managed to beat Psaila.

Six minutes in the second half Senglea scored their third goal when Glenn Brincat scored a great ball with a shot from outside the box. Senglea continued their positive period and it wasn’t a surprise that they scored the fourth goal when on the 66th minute Roland John Emeka beat Psaila with a low shot.

On the 70th minute Luqa were given a penalty which was converted by Lee Baldacchino.

Luqa: P. Psaila, A. Psaila, C. Caruana, C. Gatt ( T. Cassar), F. Cauchi, G. Frendo (S. Gatt), J. Good, L. Baldacchino, M. Ciantar (J. Fenech), A. Abdilla, L. Vella

Senglea: B. Bartolo, B. Zerafa, A. Sciortino, T. Thomas, R. Tanti, S. Calleja, D. Grech (O. Rababah), J. Buttigieg, R. Micallef, J. Emeka (R. Degiorgio), G. Brincat (K. Galea)

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

Msida St. Joseph 1

Attard 2

Attard registered an important victory when they beat Msida 2-1 to gain three important points in their fight against relegation. For Msida this was a big blow as they dropped three important points in their fight to remain in the Second Division.

Msida created the first opportunity after 18 minutes when Pirrone crossed a low ball where there was Clarke but his shot went over the bar. On the 20th Msida opened the score. Referee Chris Lautier ordered a penalty after Jean Claude Grech fouled Pirrone in the box and Ryan Xuereb made no mistake from the penalty spot.

On the half hour mark when Chris Farrugia gave the illusion of the goal but his shot went a bit wide. Attard were reduced to ten men after Jean Claude Grech recieved two yellow cards on the 36th minute.

Although one man short, they still managed to equalise after they were given a penalty after captain Matthew Borda fouled Farrugia in the box with referee Chris Lautier giving Borda marching orders. Kurt Zahra converted to level the score.

Two minutes in the second half Ubberden turned into a corner a good shot from De Andrade. Attard took the lead on the hour mark when Agius came out blocking, with the ball finishing in Rosen Pilipov’s foot who advanced and scored with a great shot from long range.

Msida had the chance to equalise on the 82nd minute but Ubberden saved Curtis’s central shot. Two minutes later the Attard defence saved on the line a header from Clarke while another shot from Curtis went wide.

One minute from time Msida goalkeeper John Agius was sent-off after he retailated.

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, O. Zammit, A. Pirrone, M. Borda, M. Clarke, M. Caruana, M. Pisani (P. Sakchai), J. Paiva (M. Curtis), R. Xuereb, F. De Andrade

Attard: R. Ubberden, O. Tabone, D. Agius, A. Agius, D. Gauci, J.C. Cachia, A. Lanzon, R. Pilipov, K. Zahra, C. Farrugia, S. Mohammed

Referee: C. Lautier

Mellieha 1

Gharghur 1

A goal scored five minutes before stoppage time was all Mellieha needed to save an important point from their encounter against Gharghur, thus holding fast to their third place in the current standings, with a total of 23 points. Gharghur on the other hand, have to make do with sixth place with 16 points.

Gharghur took the lead on the half-hour mark, when from a cross by Iro Curmi, Carl Azzopardi’s header beat Gharghur’s defence.

Mellieha’s reaction came one minute before the break, when Luke Cauchi’s long-distance drive was converted into a corner by Gharghur’s defence.

Gharghur seemed to be in a better tactical shape at the start of the second half, and three minutes after the resumption, Chris Vella’s powerful shot was saved by the goalkeeper from over the line.

When all looked as if Gharghur were taking the three points home, Mellieha’s managed to save the day five minutes before stoppage time, when following some disorder in Gharghur’s defence, David Cauchi managed to curl the ball in the corner of the net from a difficult position.

Mellieha: S. Gauci, W. Buttigieg (W. Borg St. John), M. Vella, P. Taylor, D. Cauchi, L. Cauchi, K. Gauci, G. Magri, W. Borg, K. Simiana (J. Vella), A. Aquilina (R. Perkins)

Gharghur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, H. Gatt Bonello, R. Mifsud, R. Debattista, C. Azzopardi, S. Ilifv, I. Curmi (E. Lapira), C. Vella, B. Perry Acton, T. Grozev

Referee: Glenn Tonna