Mgarr U 4

Marsascala 1

Mgarr United kept their hopes for promotion when they beat Marsaskala 4-1.

This result might give an indication that it was an easy win but Mgarr had to turn the cards as they were 1-0 down till the 69th minute. Marsascala produced a good performance but they gave up in the last 25 minutes.

Mgarr began on a good note when after three minutes a shot on the volley by Albert Aquilina finished over the bar. Mgarr continued to pile the pressure and on the 17th minute a shot from Chris Abela was saved by Camilleri.

But against the run of play Marsascala took the lead when on the 33rd minute Nazzareno Abela recieved a good ball and after a personal action he beat Borg with a low shot.

Mgarr levelled the score on the 69th minute when after a confusing action Chris Abela put the ball past substitute Peplow.

Mgarr turned the cards on the 78th minute when it was again Chris Abela who beat Peplow with a good shot. Mgarr closed the match on the 87th minute when substitute Russell Marmara beat Peplow with a good shot from the edge of the box.

Mgarr sealed the win in the stoppage time when Chris Tabone beat Peplow with a powerful shot

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

Marsascala: C. Camilleri (J. Peplow), N. Slavchev, E. Desira, C. Bordieri, S. Callus, M. Said, F. Peplow, C. Schembri, A. Dominicus, C. Zammit, N. Abela

Referee: Eamon Grech

St Lucia 2

Mdina K 1

St Lucia won three important points when they won against Mdina Knights in a direct encounter. Their hero was Basil Chibueze who scored both goals to raise up his tally to 16 goals. Mdina suffered a blow in their aspirations and now they are four points behind Mgarr.

St Lucia went close on the 23rd minute when a cross from Marlon Farrugia to Nico Corito who missed the target when his header finished into the side netting.

St Lucia took the lead on the 39th minute when Basil Chibueze recieved a good ball from the wing and with a low shot from the big box managed to beat Aquilina.

St Lucia almost doubled when a shot from Antoine Sapiano finished over the bar.

Mdina levelled the score on the 63rd minute when after a persistent action Matthew Francalanza beat Carabott from close range.

St Lucia scored the winning goal on the 76th minute it was again Basil Chibueze who concluded from close range after recieving a good pass.

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

Mdina: M. Aquilina, L. Mercieca, K. Formosa, G. Camilleri, A. Catania, N. Micallef, R. Southward, A. Gatt, Y. Grech, M. Saliba (C. Scerri), M. Francalanza

Referee: Martin Borg

Swieqi 0

Mtarfa 1

Mtarfa registered a 1-0 victory over Swieqi thanks to a penalty scored in the last 20 minutes of the match, a decision which is highly debatable.

Mtarfa have now gone to a total of 21 points and keep moving away from relegation zone. On the other hand, this was the second consecutive defeat for Swieqi, who remain in the middle of the grid with 27 point, and certainly not worried about relegation.

The best opportunity for Swieqi came two minutes before the break, when Hampton passed towards Sammut who was unmarked in front of the goalkeeper, yet his weak shot was too central.

They went close again on 51 minutes, when amidst confusion in Mtarfa’s area, Zammit’s effort was cleared from over the line.

On 78 minutes, a Swieqi player was seen involuntarily handling the ball in the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. From the spot, OMAR SMIER hit home.

In the last instances of the match, Swieqi’s Christopher Micallef was sent off for protests.

Swieqi: G. Edwards, J. Pace, B. Buhagiar, S. Borg, D. McKean (F. Debono), N. Zammit, S. Sammut, P. Spiteri (I. Scicluna), M. Fenech, E. Sciberras (C. Micallef), T. Hampton

Mtarfa: K. Sammut, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, J. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, J. Mwema Munjao, S. Peplow, D. Haruna, F. Azzopardi (L. Vella), G. Cumbo, O. Smier

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Xghajra 2

Kalkara 4

Bottom-side Kalkara surprised Xghajra when they beat them 4-2, thus going to a total of eight points on the grid. Even if their chances of salvation are very slim, this victory will certainly boost the team’s morale.

Kalkara opened the scoring three minutes into the match, when from a cross by Cassar, DAVID GAUCI’s header hit home. Xghajra equalised barely 20 minutes later, when from a freekick by Saliba, CHRISTIAN MAGRO’s looping header took Kalkara’s defence by surprise.

Xghajra took the lead for the first time in the match on 42 minutes, when MARTIN NOSKO controlled the ball brilliantly, and beat goalkeeper Bajada from close range.

CHARLES CACHIA equalised again for Kalkara on 53 minutes, when the custodian did not manage to withhold the ball, with Kalkara’s attacker hitting home from an acute angle. Xghajra were down to 10 men on 74 minutes, when Charles Cachia was sent off for a foul on Jacob Camilleri.

Kalkara took the lead again three minutes before the break with a splendid looping header by ABDULJAWED MUSHA; and they sealed the match a few seconds from time with a long-distance drive by SHAUN CUCCIARDI from a considerable distance.

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

Kalkara: C. Bajada, C. Bilocca, C. Cachia, J. Camilleri, S. Camilleri (D. Mifsud), C. Caruana (J. Zahra), M. Cassar, D. Gauci, A. Musha, C. Zammit (S. Cucciardi), D. Zammit

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Ghaxaq 4

Qrendi 1

Ghaxaq registered a very important victory over Qrendi at 4-1, thus keeping up with Mgarr in the race for third place.

With this victory Ghaxaq have gone to a total of 44 points, two points behind the same Mgarr. On the other hand, Qrendi are still in danger zone with just 17 points in the third place from the bottom, though if Marsa and Kalkara lose their upcoming encounters, they would be safe.

Ghaxaq opened the scoring on 35 minutes, when goalkeeper Zammit saved in style Parnis’ effort, but from the rebound LEONARD ALLA tapped the ball at the back of the net.

They increased their lead on 45 minutes when after a good run by Ellul, FRANCIS GALEA chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and concluded at the back of the net.

Qrendi were reduced to 10 men on 47 minutes, when Marh Ellul was sent off for a nasty foul on Galea. A few minutes later, Qrendi pulled one back when ADRIAN MUSCAT beat Ghaxaq’s defence from a direct free kick.

Yet Qrendi’s efforts were immediately stopped, when Ghaxaq scored their third on 77 minutes thanks to FRANRICK SCHEMBRI’s shot form a short distance.

They sealed the match five minutes from time, when RYAN D’AMATO went past two defenders and tapped the ball at the back of the net.

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

Qrendi: B. Zammit, S. Galea, L. Schembri, M. Ellul, L. Vidal, M. Farrugia (G. Micallef), G. Azzopardi, P. Bezzina, R. Darmanin, J. Bugeja, A. Muscat

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Marsa 0

Pembroke 3

Pembroke, who are already promoted to second division, continued their brilliant winning-streak by beating bottom-side Marsa 3-0. This was another blow for Marsa, who with just 13 points at the bottom of the grid, seem destined for elimination.

Pembroke dictated play throughout the 90 minutes, with Marsa rarely being offensive and concentrating all their efforts on defending and trying to minimise the damage.

The leaders took the lead 24 minutes into the match, when Borg passed over to ADRIAN GALEA who tapped the ball home.

They doubled their lead on 37 minutes, when Leonardi passed over to LYDON CILIA who chipped the ball past goalkeeper Grima and ended at the back of the net.

They sealed the match on 67 minutes, when after a good run by Borg who went past two defenders, JONATHAN MIFSUD tried his luck from the edge of the area, with goalkeeper Grima beaten.

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

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, M. Mamo, A. Galea, J. C. Borg (T. Naudi), L. Cilia, C. Leonardi (D. Calleja Cremona), M. Borg, J. Mifsud, D. Crmeona, R. Caruana (R. Zammit), G. Spiteri

Referee: Keith Buhagiar

Fgura 6

Sirens 2

Fgura had an easy day against Sirens, beating their opponents 6-2 with a very positive performance and an incredible display of football, where the score could have been a lot higher.

Fgura keep fighting for promotion in second place with 53 points, closely followed by Mgarr and Ghaxaq with 46 and 44 points respectively.

Fgura opened the scoring after seven minutes of play with a low shot by LYDON VELLA from an acute angle. Sirens equalised 10 minutes later with a splendid long-distance drive by GEORGE FALZON. They were close to taking the lead for the first time on 26 minutes when Sciberras’ effort hit the crossbar.

Fgura took the lead again on the half-hour mark, when after a good run by Scerri who crossed central; RICARDO CONCALVES SEVERINO tapped the ball home. They further increased their lead on 61 minutes with a powerful strike by MICHAEL ZAMMIT which hit the post and ended at the back of the net.

Sirens tried to react on 83 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area, with GIANLUCA VELLA beating Attard.

Yet Fgura were back on target three minutes before time when from a fast attack between Zammit u LYDON VELLA, the latter tapped the ball home. RICCARDO CONCALVES SEVERINO sealed the three points for his side a minute from time with a low shot.

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

Sirens: N. Attard, D. Sant, G. Magri, J. Grech, G. L. Vella, G. Falzon, B. Borg, R. Sciberras, G. Gauci, C. Vella (R. Debono), A. Goeolghe

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri