Birkirkara 1

Mellieha 3

Mellieha registered their first win from 17 games after beating Birkirkara.

Following this game Mellieha are in bottom place on five points while Birkirkara are third from bottom on 11, also from 17 games.

After a balanced first period Mellieha were the better side after the resumption as they managed to score two goals.

The first two actions were created by Birkirkara. Darren Buttigieg was fouled outside the area and Kieran Xuereb drove well off target from the free kick. Xuereb then served Nicky Borg in the area but he failed to make contact with the ball.

In the first action by Mellieha, Roberto Curmi served Jack Vella in the area and a defender cleared the ball to a corner. This was well-taken by Luke Camilleri and after the ball was partly cleared, Curmi drove over the bar from the rebound.

At the other end, moments later, Xuereb was fouled outside the area and after he floated a high ball in the area, Ryan Gauci drove over the bar from inside the area.

Mellieha opened the score in the 27th minute when Carlo Delia was fouled on the right flank. Thomas Stellini floated a high ball in the area and Camilleri scored with a header past Birkirkara keeper Alistair Micallef.

But their joy was shortlived as hardly a minute later Birkikara equalized. Nicky Borg served Jamie Zerafa with a through ball in the area and the latter scored as he lobbed the ball over Mellieha keeper Dean Galea. 

The last two actions before the break were both created by Mellieha. Jack Vella served Camilleri with a through ball in the area and he missed the upright with his shot.

Birkirkara were first in action after the restart as Gauci served substitute Kurt Amato with a perfect through ball but he missed the upright from the edge of the area. 

Mellieha restored their lead in the 43rd minute when Jack Vella was fouled just outside the area and Stellini scored with a hard rising shot in the top left hand corner of the net.

In a reaction by Birkirkara Owen Amato dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and after entering the area, Galea had to turn the ball to a corner from his shot.    

The score became 3-1 in the 56th minute, David Xuereb served Camilleri with a square pass outside the area and he scored with a hard rising shot from 35 metres.

Birkirkara kept trying and created two actions before the end. Jean C Galea released Amato on the right flank, and after advancing, Galea saved his shot from outside the area.

Amato was then fouled on the right flank and from Kieran Xuereb’s free kick the ball missed the far post by inches.

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Player of the match: David Xuereb (Mellieha)