Gzira 3

San Gwann 1

Second Division leaders Gzira United continued on their winning streak beating San Gwann in a low profile match. Captain Jimmy Hussey was outstanding for Gzira with striker Simon Shead scoring a brace in the first half.

San Gwann were a disappointing lot as they never really worried Gzira goalkeeper Simon Agius, apart from a good patch in the dying minutes when the match was dead and buried.

Gzira had a promising start with Simon Shead hitting the upright and from the rebound Ewurun missed a glorious chance blasting wide with an open goal.

Gzira’s lead came on 20 minutes when Simon Shead beat the offside trap and the advancing Carbonaro to score with a low shot.

San Gwann held some territorial superiority but never tested Agius, and on 38 minutes Gzira made it two. A Jimmy Hussey shot hit the base of the upright and Simon Shead was on hand to hit home the rebound.

In the second half Gzira controlled the match and scored a third half way through when Ryan Deguara dribbled the whole defence before beating Carbonaro.

San Gwann pushed desperately forward in the dying minutes and pulled one back in stoppage time through substitute James Borg. Minutes earlier other substitute Richard Attard hit the side netting.

Gzira U: S. Agius, T. Micallef, S. Shead (N. Zahra), R. Alinho, J. Hussey, A. White, R. Deguara, A. Ewurun (J. Azopardi), K. Cassar, S. Pace, K. Saliba (Y. Tonna)

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, K. Vella, D. Cosaitis, M. Francica, G. Agius (M. Asciaq), C. Cuschieri (R. Attard), A. Borg, R. Zammit, R. Sell, C. Pace, C. Cacciatolo (J. Borg).

Referee: Mario Apa

Kirkop 1

Zurrieq 1

Kirkop and Zurrieq obtained a point each from their encounter, in which Kirkop were slightly better than their opponents and would have probably deserved the three points. Both teams keep struggling in the lower end of the grid with 17 and 14 points respectively.

The first opportunity of the match came Zurrieq’s way 25 minutes into the match, when Tabone committed a foul on Lia, but Sacco’s effort on the ensuing freekick skimmed the woodwork.

Kirkop opened the scoring on 54 minutes, when after recieving from Tabone, Rumen Kerekov went past two defenders, and after his shot hit the post, it went in.

Fifteen minutes later, Zurrieq equalised when they were also awarded a freekick for Pisani’s foul on Camilleri. Lia took ownership of the freekick, and Karl Sacco’s header found the corner of the net.

In the second minute of added time, Kirkop went close to taking the lead again, when after a good run by Stankovic along the left flank, Kerekov’s header went slightly high over the crossbar.

Kirkop: C. Francica, B. Falzon, A. Busuttil, M. Pisnai, S. Petrov, I. Stankovic, N. Tabone, B. Bugeja (J. Gerada), R. Kerekov, M. Aquilina, B. Farrugia

Zurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, V. Micallef, A. Barbara, J. Lia (C. Schembri), M. Genius, Z. Vukovic, D. Stojanovic (S. Azzopardi), A. Portelli (D. Bonnici), J. Briffa, A. Cmailleri

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu

St Venera 1

Zebbug 3

Zebbug registered their second consecutive win when they beat St Venera 3-1, thus rising to a total of 25 points on the grid.

Zebbug put on a very convincing performance, where the tally could have been a lot higher.

Zebbug opened the scoring eight minutes into the match, when for a throw in by Pereira da Mata, Roderick Spiteri beat the opposing defence with a low shot. Ten minutes later, Zebbug were close to doubling their lead, when a shot by goal-scorer Spiteri from outside the area hit the crossbar.

Five minutes after the break, Emmanuel Muscat equalised for St Venera with a powerful long-distance drive from an acute angle. But on 65 minutes, Melvin Farrugia gave Zebbug the lead once again with a low effort from the centre of the area.

Seven minutes from stoppage time, Anyanwu tried his luck from the middle of the pitch but saw his shot hitting the post, with the ball ending up at substitute Charlon Sammut’s feet, who tapped the ball home, thus sealing his side’s three points.

In the last instances of the match, St Venera’s goalkeeper Warren Suschieri was sent off for protesting with the referee.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, S. Farrugia, M. Muscat, J. Onohua, E. Muscat, G. Micallef, D. Calleja, R. Carbonaro (M. Grech), A. Hili (C. Harris), R. Borg, D. Wingfield (D. Mercieca)

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

Referee: Ken Trastiv Farrugia

Gudja United 1

Senglea Athletic 2

Bottom team Senglea sprang a big surprise when they beat promotion contenders Gudja United 2-1 in an entertaining match. Although Senglea won, Gudja had most of the game in their hands but failed to create dangerous chances.

The first real action came on the 20th minute when William Camenzuli gave a good through ball to Peter Paul Sammut who crossed to Timothy Thomas but Rennie Tanti came in and managed to deflect the ball into a corner.

Two minutes later Bartolo saved a good shot from Thomas. On the 25th minute Senglea were given a penalty when Elton Bugeja fouled Degiorgio in the box with referee Kevin Azzopardi ordering a penalty. From the spot Darren Grech made no mistake.

Gudja tried to make a reaction but the only real chance came on the 39th minute when a shot from Keith Bonello went over the bar.

Senglea could have doubled their lead on the 51st minute when Xerxen saved a good ball after a shot from Emeka.

Gudja levelled matters on the 64th minute when Timothy Thomas beat Bartolo from close range after receiving a pass from Bugeja.

But Senglea took the lead again on the 76th minute when Glenn Brincat beat two defenders and crossed where there was Roland John Emeka who headed past Xerxen.

Gudja could have levelled the score ten minutes from time when Peter Paul Sammut missed a good chance from the box. In the dying minutes a shot from Elvin Gauci went a bit wide.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, E. Bugeja, E. Vella (C. Grech), M. Milutinovic, G. Cutajar, A. Gjepali,W. Camenzuli, K. Bonello (E. Gauci), A. Guazzo (C. Galea), P.P. Sammut, T.J. Thomas

Senglea: B. Bartolo, C. Borg (M. Ciappara), R. Tanti, T. Thomas, D. Xuereb, A. Sciortino, D. Grech, G. Brincat (C. Dimech), R. Degorgio (K.Zammit), R. Emeka, P. Camilleri

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Mellieha 1

Msida St Joseph 0

Mellieha took three important points when they managed to beat with difficulty Msida St Joseph 1-0. With this win Mellieha are now second alone after Gudja’s loss. Msida gave a courageous fight but it wasn’t enough to save something from the match.

Mellieha went close from the beginning and in the first minute Mallia turned into a corner a header from Giovanni Galea. Msida could have took the lead on the 27th minute when Sakchai beat the offside trap but missed the opportunity when he came face to face with Abela but the Mellieha goalie saved the poor shot with his feet.

Mellieha took the lead on the 37th minute when from a free-kick by Loquete, the Msida defence failed to clear and Giovanni Galea was in the right place to score.

Mellieha could have doubled the lead five minutes into the second half when William Borg crossed in the box. Msida were given a penalty on the 80th minute when David Cauchi fouled into the box with referee Luke Portelli ordering to the spot. But James Abela turned the shot by Ryan Xuereb into a corner.

Mellieha: J. Abela, M. Vella, P. Taylor, L. Cauchi, R. Perkins, W. Borg, K. Fenech, M. Vella (G. Magri), W. Borg StJohn (D. Cauchi), G. Galea (K. Simiana), T. Loquete

Msida: J. Mallia, M. Borda, R. Zammit (J. Paiva), L .Cassar, M. Clarke, D. Attard, M. Crupi, R. Xuereb, M. Caruana, P. Sakchai (M. Pisani), F. De Andrade

Referee: Luke Portelli