Kirkop U 3

Gzira U 1

Gzira keep their first place on the table with 52 points despite suffering a loss against Kirkop in a very interesting match. Both teams played well during the game, however Kirkop’s players were the more determined to emerge as winners.

An angled free kick for Gzira on the 10th minute found SIMON SHEAD who beat Kirkop’s goalkeeper Carmelo Caruana with a header. On the 44th, the Maroons threatened Kirkop when Yanis Tonna crossed towards Luis Fernando Borges Correia e Silva, back to Ryan Deguara who concluded slightly wide.

Kirkop achieved the draw on the 51st minute in a similar action where captain IVAN STANKOVIC’s header, upon Albert Busuttil’s free kick, beat Gzira’s goalkeeper Simon Agius.

On the 63rd minute Gzira’s Karl Saliba’s central free kick was cleared by Albert Busuttil. Kirkop doubled the score on the 66th minute when ALBERT BUSUTTIL fired a central rising shot from a notable distance.

Kirkop made it 3-1 on the 79th minute when BRONWEN BUGEJA blasted an angled shot from close range.

Gzira persisted till the very end in order to improve the final result; however their efforts were in vain and the match ended in a win for Kirkop United.

Kirkop U.: C. Caruana, P.P. Cassar, M. Aquilina, A. Busuttil, R. Galea, S. Petrov, I. Stankovic, B. Falzon, B. Bugeja (N. Tabone), R. Kerekov, J. Attard

Gzira U.: Simon Agius, S. Pace (J. Azzopardi), T. Ewurun, S. Shead, R. Degaura, T. Micallef, A. Galea (A. Buttigieg), L.F. Borges Correia e Silva, Y. Tonna (M. Cocks), K. Saliba, A. White.

Referee: Glenn Tonna

Zebbug R 4

Senglea A 1

Malcolm Tirchett’s hat-trick and another goal gave Zebbug Rangers an easy win against Senglea Athletic.

The Rangers showed their excellent capabilities throughout the whole ninety minutes and apart from that single goal scored early in the match, Senglea were never a threat to them.

Senglea opened the score on the 10th minute when JOHN EMEKA ROLAND beat the Zebbug Rangers’ defence and goalkeeper James Mercieca with a low angled shot.

The Rangers replied on the 26th minute when MALCOLM TIRCHETT scored with a header upon Gordon Mallia’s cross. Five minutes later, Zebbug doubled when CHARLO SAMMUT blasted at the corner of the net an angled shot from the edge of the penalty area.

On the 36th minute Zebbug made them three when MALCOLM TIRCHETT scored from close range. MALCOLM TIRCHETT scored another goal only three minutes later when he beat goalkeeper Bartolo with a low angled shot.

On the 65th minute, John Roland Emeka beat three Zebbug defenders but his shot was saved by the Rangers’ goalkeeper Mercieca.

The situation remained practically the same throughout the rest of the match, with the Zebbug Rangers pressurising even more the Athletics, and although Senglea approached their adversaries’ net towards the end, their efforts did not bear fruit. Hence, Zebbug Rangers are now placing 5th with 40 points on the table – only a point behind Gharghur.

Zebbug R.: J. Mercieca, J. Mercieca, D. Caruana, G. Mallia, M. Brincat, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, C. Sammut (B. Chetcuti), S. Peireira Da Mata (D. D’Agostino), U. Anyanwu, M. Tirchett (C. Pace)

Senglea A: B. Bartolo, K. Dimech (T. Thomas), C. Borg, J.P. Abdilla, K. Zammit, J. Abela, G. Brincat, P. Camilleri (J. Abdilla), A. Sciortino, K. Galea (D. Xuereb), J. Emeka Roland

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

St Venera L 1

Mellieha 0

St Venera grabbed three important points when they beat Mellieha 1-0 to almost making sure that next season they will play in the Second Division.

Mellieha tried to save something from this match where they even lost a penalty but St Venera defended bravely to secure three important points.

Mellieha started on the attack and on the 9th minute Wayne Borg st.John passed to Kyle Simiana but his shot from the edge of the box fininshed wide.

On the 26th minute St Venera were awarded a penalty when Matthew Vella fouled Dylan Mercieca in the box with referee Alan Mario Sant ordering a penalty. From the spot Dylan Mercieca made no mistake.

Mellieha were dangerous on the 39th minute when a free-kick from Phil Taylor hit the cross-bar. Taylor hit again the cross-bar four minutes later with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Mellieha were awarded a penalty on hour mark when David Calleja fouled Wayne Borg st.John but the penalty from Phil Taylor was saved by Cuschieri.

After this good opportunity, Mellieha tried to save something from this match but St Venera kept control.

At the end of the match there were some arguments when St Venera goalkeeper Warren Cuschieri passed some remarks to Mellieha captain Keith Fenech and it almost ended in a fight until everything was sorted out.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, R. Carbonaro, M. Muscat, J. Zammit (K. Vella), E. Muscat, G. Micallef, D. Calleja, D. Mercieca (J. Taliana), J. Onouha, K. Cilia, A. Hili (D. Wingfield)

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

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Gharghur 2

San Gwann 1

This was a precious win for Gharghur over San Gwann to maintain their fight for promotion. This match changed as time passed by as it finished with heated arguments by both sets of supporters and even some players. Gharghur took advantage by the loss of Mellieha where the are now one point under Mellieha and three points under Gudja.

San Gwann couldn’t have a better start when after just two minutes Shawn Vella put Molzahn’s team in front with a powerful shot that gave Zarb no chance. Gharghur made a good reaction and had a shot from Iro Curmi cleared off the line. San Gwann went close to double when Shawn Vella had a personal action but his shot finished wide.

Gharghur were the better team in the second half and they had a shot from Strati Iliev turned into a corner and from the same corner Nagy saved a header from Grozev. Gharghur went close again when Perry Acton crossed to Grozev but his shot went wide.

Beppe Pace tried his luck on the 66th minute but found Nagy prepared to save the shot.Gharghur equalised on the 72nd minute when Strati Iliev scored a wonderful free-kick that leff Nagy with no chance.

Gharghur took the lead just a minute later when Iro Curmi took advantage from a lack of marking from the defence and buried past Nagy with a low shot. Grozev went close again but his powerful shot on the 83rd minute finished a bit wide.

Gharghur finished the match with ten men after substitute Mark Gauci was sent-off.

Gharghur: D. Zarb, J. Debattista (R. Mifsud), C. Farrugia, D. Mamo, B. Pace, B. Perry Acton, K. Azzopardi, B. Antignolo (M. Gauci), S. Iliev, T. Grozev (L. Stivala), I. Curmi

San Gwann: D. Nagy, M. Asciak, J. Xavier Lopez, M. Francica, M. Mercieca, A. Borg, P. Xuereb (R. Attard), C. Cuschieri (C. Cacciatolo), S. Vella (D. Cosaitis), R. Sell, R. Zammit

Referee: Marco Borg

Luqa 1

Attard 4

Attard registered an impressive victory against Luqa SA, with Attard fully deserving their victory.

Ironically Attard played better in the first half but had only one goal to show to their credit.

In the second half the match was more balanced with Luqa putting their minds at rest with two late goals.

On 16 minutes Attard took the lead through Chris Farrugia after a pass from Jean Claude Cachia. Attard continued to dominate missing several scoring chances, with Luqa going near on 30 minutes with a Debattista drive.

Early in the second half Attard doubled the score through an Andrew Agius grounder. On 63 minutes Luqa were back in the game when Gordon Failla scored direct from a freekick, awarded for a foul on Costa Brazilino.

Luqa increased the pressure to save the match but on 87 minutes Attard sealed the issue with a Traykov goal after some good work by Zahra.

In stoppage time Andrew Agius obtained his brace when he beat Paul Psaila following a good Traykov pass.

Luqa: P. Psaila, A. Psaila (T. Cauchi), S. Costa Brazilino, G. Failla, C. Caruana, J. Good, G. Frendo (C. Gatt), L. Baldacchino, R. Debattista, A. Abdilla, J. Fenech (L. Vella)

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

Referee: Stefan Pace

Zurrieq 0

Msida 4

Msida beat Zurrieq by a clear four goal margin thanks to two goals in each half. Although the victory is flattering the match was rather balanced. However Msida fully deserved their victory as they were more dangerous up front.

On 24 minutes Msida went close with a Caruana shot after some good work by Zammit. Msida took the lead on 31 minutes when De Andrade passed towards MELVIN PISANI who fired past Alden for the opener.

Seven minutes later Msida doubled the score when Refalo was fouled outside the area and MATTHEW CLARKE scored direct from a freekick.

On the hour, Zurrieq went close to pull one back with a Victor Micallef scorcher, but John Agius made a brilliant save. Fifteen minutes from time Msida scored a third goal when FERNANDO DE ANDRADE had an impressive run, even dribbling the goalkeeper before scoring.

Msida scored their fourth and final goal on 90 minutes when Clayton Caruana passed towards FERNANDO DE ANDRADE who beat Alden for Msida’s fourth and final goal.

Zurrieq: J. Alden, D. Bonnici, J. Lia, V. Micallef, D. Stoyanovic, M. Genuis, J. Briffa, N. Abdilla (D. Darmanin), Z. Vukovic (C. Schembri), A. Camilleri, S. Azzopardi (N. Zammit)

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, O. Zammit (C. Caruana), G. Refalo, M. Caruana, M. Borda, D. Attard, M. Pisani (R. Tanti), P. Sakchai (G. Attard), M. Clarke, F. De Andrade

Referee: Luke Portelli

Siggiewi 1

Gudja 3

Siggiewi suffered their fifth consecutive defeat when they were beaten by Gudja, who after suffering an early goal, managed to turn the result in their favour.

Gudja have now lifted themselves to second place on 44 points, after Mellieha were shocked by St Venera. Gzira, who also lost their last encounter, remain at the summit of the table with 52 points.

Siggiewi opened the scoring after 11 minutes of play with a splendid strike by JOSEF VASSALLO from outside the area.

Gudja started their come-back on 25 minutes, when goalkeeper Vella was seen catching Thomas’ foot in the area, with WILLIAM CAMENZULI hitting home from the ensuing penalty.

They took the lead for the first time in the match four minutes before the break, when from a low cross; it was PETER PAUL SAMMUT who tapped the ball at the back of the net.

Gudja sealed the match on 86 minutes, when Sammut put down a cross by Agius, and WILLIAM CAMENZULI beat Vella for the second time with a splendid shot.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, S. Delia, N. Galea, J. Shead (M. Deguara), M. Bajada, E. Vella, K. Buhagiar (I. Darmanin), B. Galea, E. Ciappara, J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo

Gudja: M. Xerxen, J. Mallia (C. Galea), G. Cutajar, M. Milutinovic, J. Tonna, W. Camenzuli, E. Bugeja, A. Guazzo (D. Agius), K. Bonello, P. P. Sammut, T. Thomas (T. J. Thomas)

Referee: Paul Caruana