Pembroke A 2

Mgarr U 0

Pembroke won the promotion to second division after the beat Mgarr United 2-0. The match had the two sides of the coin as the first half was a tight affair, but in the second half Pembroke took control of the match especially after the first goal.

On the 11th minute a powerful shot from outside the box by Karl Vella was saved by Calleja Cremona.

One had to wait until the 44th minute to see another shot when Chris Abela’s shot finished over the bar.

Pembroke opened the score on the 57th minute when Matthew Borg received a good ball and after he advanced he beat Borg.

Now Pembroke had the control of the game and five minutes later Lydon Cilia had a ball cleared off the line from Petrovic. Pembroke went close to double on the 86th minute when a free-kick from Martinovic was saved with difficulty by Borg who managed to turn into a corner.

Pembroke closed the match on the 89th minute when substitute Carlo Leonardi advanced from the right wing and after advancing, he beat Borg with a low shot.

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, M. Mamo, A. Galea, J.C. Borg, L. Cilia, V. Martinovic, M. Borg (D. Calleja Cremona), J. Mifsud, D. Cremona (C. Leonardi), R. Caruana (N. Coleiro Gatt), G. Spiter

Mgarr: J. Borg, C. Abela, P. Fenech (M. Mifsud), W. Camilleri, V. Petrovic, K. Caruana, C. Tabone, K. Vella (L. Mifsud), A. Aquilina, R. Marmara (J. Gauci)

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Sirens 1

Xghajra 3

Xghajra Tornadoes chalked up their 11th victory this season, as the Greens moved further up in the table. Xghajra thus registered a double over their opponents having beaten Sirens by the odd goal in three in the first round.

Xghajra were the better team in the first half building a two goal lead inside the first 30 minutes of the match. On 22 minutes Brian Magro crossed towards Andrew Vella who from just inside the area beat goalkeeper Attard with a fierce drive.

Six minutes later Xghajra doubled the score when Martin Nosko’s shot was partially saved by Attard and from the rebound Brian Magri shot home despite Attard’s desperate attempt to save again.

In the second half Xghajra controlled the match with relative ease, but Sirens pulled one back on 70 minutes thorough George Falzon who beat Camilleri following a Gary Grant pass. The match was now an exciting affair, but Xghajra put the issue beyond doubt a minute from time when substitute Kevin Tonna dribbled past goalkeeper Camilleri before scoring in an empty net.

Sirens: N. Attard, R. Theuma (M. Sultana), D. Sant, G. Neda, J. Grech, G. Vella, G. Gauci (A. Alden), R. Sciberras, G. Grant, B. Borg, G. Falzon

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, G. Saliba, A. Muscat, B. Magro (A. Manaf), C. Magro, D. Axisa, A. Vella, M. Polonec (K. Tonna), M. Nosko, L. Grech (S. Camilleri), C. Micallef

Referee: Martin Borg

Marsascala 2

Swieqi 1

Ten-man Marsascala managed to beat Swieqi United by the odd goal in three in a match between two sides from the lower half of the table.

For Marsascala it was a return to winning ways after a four-match winless streak, while for Swieqi this was their second consecutive defeat after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mgarr in their last outing.

Swieqi had a better start and went close on 20 minutes when Marsascala goalkeeper Jonathan Peplow saved his side off a Jeremy Pace shot.

Marsascala took the lead on 28 minutes when Nazzareno Abela passed to the unmarked Mark Said who dribbled past the Swieqi goalkeeper before putting at the back of the net.

On 36 minutes several players almost came to blows, with the referee showing the red card to Marsascala’s Juan Galdes.

Swieqi increased their pressure in search of the equaliser but Marsascala stunned their opponents with a second goal. Felix Peplow passed towards Nazzareno Abela who beat goalkeeper Edwards with a powerful drive.

Ten minutes from time Swieqi were back in business when Matthew Fenech passed towards Simon Borg who scored from close range.

Swieqi tried desperately to save the match but Marsascala defended well to snatch the three points at stake.  

Marsascala: J. Peplow, J. Galdes, E. Desira (J. Debono), D. Falzon (A. Domenicus), S. Callus, F. Peplow, M. Said, C. Schembri (J. Scicluna), C. Bordiers, N. Slavchev, N. Abela

Swieqi: G. Edwards, J. Pace, L. Fenech (K. Calleja), S. Borg, B. Buhagiar, P. Spiteri (T. Kurtulush), S. Sammut, S. Diacono, F. Debono (M. Fenech), E. Sciberras, T. Hampton

Referee: Daryl Agius

Ghaxaq 1

Mdina K 6

Mdina Knights returned to winning ways after three games when they easily beat Ghaxaq 6-1 to keep their slim chances of promotion alive.

The result might give an indication that it was one way traffic but Ghaxaq played with 10 men from the 24th minute onwards when the score was still 0-0.

In fact Ghaxaq were reduced to 10 men on the 24th minute when Marvin Grech was sent-off after a dangerous tackle.

Mdina opened the score on the 29th minute with a good action orchestrated by three players. Peter Grima passed to Adrian Gatt whose shot was denied by the post, with captain Nicholas Micallef scoring from the rebound.

Ghaxaq made a good reaction and on the 35th minute equalised when Leonard Alla beat Aquilina with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Mdina regained their lead three minutes later when Matthew Francalanza beat Verbina with a personal action.

Mdina added another goal on the 54th minute when it was again Matthew Francalanza who recieved a good ball and anticipated Verbina to score his second personal goal. Mdina scored the fourth goal a minute later when Peter Grima connected from a good cross to beat Verbina.

Mdina continued with their rout when Matthew Francalanza scored his third goal when he took advantage of a bad back-pass from the Ghaxaq defence. Mdina scored their sixth goal on the 79th minute when Robert Southward beat Verbina from close range.

Ghaxaq: J. Verbina, E. Dimech, M. Vassallo, L. Alla, M. Ellul, M. Grech, A. Farrugia (C. Xuereb), R. D’Amato (F. Schembri), F. Galea, B. Parnis, B. Dalli (M. Axiaq)

Mdina: M. Aquilina, L. Mercieca, K. Formosa, G. Camilleri, A. Catania, N. Micallef, A. Gatt, R. Southward, P. Grima (J. Buhagiar), A. Buhagiar, M. Francalanza (C. Scerri)

Referee: Keith Buhagiar

Qrendi 2

Fgura U 3

A keenly contested match was that between Qrendi and Fgura United in which the latter did their utmost to increase their points and re-confirm their second place on the table.

Fgura took the lead on the 31st minute, in an interesting action where Riccardo Goncalves Severino crossed over to Lydon Vella, back to Goncalves who shot in the direction of the net, Qrendi’s goalkeeper Brian Zammit partially saved with a rising shot and from the rebound, Lee Roy Bonett fired a low shot from close range. On the 39th, Fgura were unlucky when Riccardo Goncalves Severino’s shot hit the pole.

On the 48th minute, Fgura doubled the score when Riccardo Goncalves Severino headed the ball in the back of the net.

On the 65th minute, Robert Darmanin reduced the gap when he beat the United goalkeeper Robert Attard with a central shot.

Nine minutes later, Qrendi achieved the draw when Luke Magri shot past Fgura’s defence and goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Fgura sealed the win on the 88th minute in an action commencing with Robert Adami’s corner which Vincent Testaferrata blasted past Zammit with a header.

Fgura have achieved 50 points so far, with a 30-point advantage over Qrendi who are placed 11th in the table.

Qrendi: B. Zammit, L. Schembri, M. Farrugia, B. Demicoli, M. Ellul, A. Formosa, L. Magri, G. Azzopardi, R. Darmanin (J. Bugeja), J. Ellul (P.Bezzina), C. Azzopardi

Fgura U.: R. Attard, R. Goncalves Severino, R. Adami, V. Camilleri (K. Scerri), R. Galea, S. Aquilina, L. Vella (V. Testaferrata), L. Bonett (M. Zammit), M. Spiteri, M. Portelli, N. Zerafa

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu

Mtarfa 3

St Lucia 0

Doda Haruna’s double and Sean Peplow’s goal gave lowly Mtarfa their fourth win this season in the match against St Lucia.

Although St Lucia played well, it was Mtarfa who dominated throughout the 90 minutes.

Mtarfa opened the score on the 35th minute when Francesco Azzopardi’s angled shot from close range was partially saved by St Lucia’s goalkeeper Duane Carabott and from the rebound Doda Haruna concluded with a low central shot.

On the 42nd St Lucia tried to equalise, but the captain Jason Galea’s angled free kick from a notable distance ended wide.

On the 52nd minute, Mtarfa doubled the score when Sean Peplow, dribbled past two St Lucia defenders within the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Carabott with a nice central shot.

A minute later, St Lucia missed an opportunity when Nico Corito’s angled shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and ended high. Mtarfa made them three on the 73rd minute when Francesco Azzopardi took off from the centre, crossed in the direction of Doda Haruna who successfully blasted a low angled shot. Mtarfa are now placed 13th with 15 points whereas St Lucia are placed 5th on the table with 39 points.

Mtarfa: K. Sammut, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, G. Cumbo, J. Azozpardi, J. Mwema Munjao, R. Zammit, F. Azzopardi (L. Vella), S. Peplow, D. Haruna (A. Micallef), P. Azzopardi (G. Curmi)

St Lucia: D. Carabott, C. Camilleri, M. Agius, J. Galea, C. Bugeja (C. Goodrum), J.Bugeja, M. Farrugia, H. Friggieri (M. Spiteri), N. Corito, A. Sapiano, B. Chibueze

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Kalkara 0

Marsa 0

The lowly teams from Kalkara and Marsa offered a very disappointing goalless match in which both teams lacked in skills and technical qualities. Scoring opportunities throughout the whole match were minimal.

During the first 45 minutes, the game was mainly played in midfield with no one trying to advance towards the opponents’ net. The players lacked co-ordination and neither team kept possession of the ball for much long.

The situation changed slightly during the second half as Marsa were more insidious on their adversaries.

On the 47th minute, Dylan Agius’ rising shot for Marsa ended high over the crossbar. A corner for Kalkara on the 50th was cleared by Marsa’s Jean Paul Zammit.

Marsa’s Kirsten Brincat’s angled shot from within the penalty area on the 69th ended wide.

The final attempt for Marsa came on the 88th minute when they were granted a free kick shot by Sean Cutajar. However this was to no avail as Kalkara’s goalkeeper Carlos Bajada punched over the crossbar, granting both teams only one point from the match and leaving them both in the bottom places of the Third Division table.

Kalkara: C. Bajada, M. Agius, C. Bilocca, J. Camilleri, S. Camilleri, C. Caruana, M. Cassar, D. Gauci, J. Zahra (S. Cucciardi), D. Zammit, R. Gialanze (C. Debono)

Marsa: D. Grima, C. Cremona, S. Sultana, D. Chircop (Y. Abdullahi), J. Rizzo, B. Zammit, J.P. Zammit, C. Cioffi, S. Cutajar, D. Agius (M. Scerri), K. Brincat

Referee: Esther Azzopardi