Mellieha 0

Gzira U 0

Mellieha and Gzira took a point each when they finished 0-0 in the match of the week.

This game didn’t live to the expectations where it was anticipated to be an exciting match but this match was quiet.

After they had two points deducted following the incidents in the match against Gudja United, Mellieha won a point from this encounter where they looked determined to return to winning ways.

They were the better team in the pitch but they weren’t able to win the game.

On the other hand Gzira disappointed as they weren’t in their usual form, having few shots towards the posts defended by Abela.

Mellieha were better than Gzira in the first half where although there weren’t actions towards the posts, they were territorially better than their opponents.

The first action of the match came on the 7th minute when a cross-shot from Mark Vella was turned into a corner by Simon Agius. Gzira went close in their first action towards the posts when on the half hour mark, James Abela blocked from a Gzira cross with tha ball finishing on Anthony Ewurum’s feet but his lob finished off target.

Mellieha appealed for a penalty four minutes in the second half when from a cross by Keith Fenech, was allegedly touched by Galea’s hands but referee Luke Portelli kept the game playing.

Mellieha went close just a minute later when a low shot from outside the box was turned in a corner by Agius. Mellieha went close on the 57th minute when a lob from youngster Kyle Simiana hit the crossbar. Mellieha hit again the crossbar this time from Giovann Galea to keep the score 0-0.

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

Gzira: S. Agius, S. Pace, A. White, Y. Tonna (M. Cocks), K. Saliba, T. Micallef, R. Alinho, S. Shead, J. Hussey (L. Borges), A. Galea, A. Ewurum

Referee: Luke Portelli

Zurrieq 2

Luqa 1

Zurrieq registered their third consecutive win, after a nine-match-long streak of draws and losses, now going to a total of 24 points and lifting themselves further up on the grid, away form relegation zone. On the other hand this was the fourth consecutive defeat for Luqa, who with just 15 points seem doomed for relegation.

Zurrieq went close after 33 minutes of play, when Briffa’s attempt from a short distance, after a precise pass by Azzopardi, went inches wide. They opened the scoring two minutes before the break, when Sacco crossed towards Zvezdan Vukovic whose first-timer surprised Camilleri.

They increased their lead on 51 minutes with a splendid long-distance drive by Nicholas Abdilla from the edge of the area, after a good run by Azzopardi, who had a very good match.

Luqa missed a sitter on 77 minutes, when after a very fast counter-attack by Caruana, Vella’s effort on target went slightly high over the crossbar. They managed to pull one back one minute from time, when George Frendo tried his luck form outside the area and hit home with a splendid shot.

Zurrieq: J. Alden, D. Bonnici, J. Lia, D. Stojanovic, K. Sacco, V. Micallef (C. Schumba), J. Briffa, N. Abdilla, M. Genuis (C. Schembri), S. Azzopardi (N. Zammit), Z. Vukovic

Luqa: M. Camilleri, A. Psaila, A. Abdilla, J. Fenech (G. Frendo), L. Vella, R. Debattista, P. Psaila, S. Costa Brazilino, J. Good, G. Failla, M. Ciantar (C. Caruana)

Referee: Paul Caruana

Kirkop 2

Attard 0

Kirkop returned to winning ways after suffering two consecutive defeats, when they beat Attard with two second half goals. The victory puts Kirkop in seventh place in a healthy mid-table position.

On the other hand for Attard this was yet another disappointment as they are still in search of a win after six matches, having gained only one point in their last six outings and are still hovering dangerously above the relegation zone.

The match had little to offer in the first half with play mainly in midfield. The best chance came Attard’s way but Adrian Falzon hit slightly wide when well served by Andrew Agius.

In the second period Kirkop scored the goals that mattered in a five minute burst half way through the half. On 65 minutes a Petrov freekick was headed home by Matthew Pisani.

Five minutes later Kirkop doubled the score when Stankovic put Josef Attard through and the latter fired home from the edge of the area. Five minutes from time Attard were unlucky not to pull one back when Traykov’s shot hit the upright.

Kirkop: C. Caruana, M. Pisani, J. Attard, A. Busuttil, P.P. Cassar, S. Petrov, I. Stankovic, B. Falzon, B. Bugeja (R. Spina), R. Kerekov, J. Gerada.

Attard: W. Galea, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, D. Gauci, C. Farrugia, A. Agius, J. Gauci (J.C. Cachia), R. Filipov, A. Lanzon (N. Spiteri), D. Traykov , S. Agius (K. Zahra)

Referee: Andre Arciola 

Gudja U 1

San Gwann 2

San Gwann made a good comeback when the came from behind and beat Gudja United 2-1 to consolidate their sixth place. The game came to live in the last 20 minutes when after Gudja took the lead, San Gwann made a good comeback and scored two goals in eight minutes.

Gudja started the match on a good note and on the 11th minute a shot from William Camenzuli was saved by Nagy.

Nagy denied again Gudja when he turned into a corner a shot from Peter Paul Sammut.

On the 25th minute a low shot from Keith Bonello fininshed a bit wide. On the 40th minute Trevor Thomas went close when his shot gave the illusion of the goal but it hit the side netting.

San Gwann went close for the first time on the 50th minute when a shot from Miguel Francica finished a bit wide. San Gwann continued to pile the pressure and two minutes later after a confusing action from a corner, Daniel Nagy cleared off the line.

Gudja took the lead on the 71st minute when Keith Bonello took advantage from an indecision in the San Gwann defence and beat Nagy.

San Gwann made a quick reaction and a minute later they levelled the match when a shot from outside the box by Marco Mercieca beat Xerxen for a wonderful goal.

San Gwann turned the cards in their favour when on the 78th minute from a cross by Peter Xuereb, Christopher Pace beat Xerxen with a good header.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, A. Gjepali, E. Vella, M. Milutinovic, W. Camenzuli, K. Bonello, E. Gauci, D. Agius (T.J. Thomas), E. Bugeja, P.P. Sammut, T. Thomas (A. Guazzo)

San Gwann: D. Nagy, M. Axiaq (G. Agius), M. Mercieca, J. Xavier Lopes, M. Francica, A. Borg, P. Xuereb, R. Zammit, C. Cacciatolo, C. Cuschieri (C. Pace), S. Vella (R. Attard)

Referee: Paul Apap