Ta’ Xbiex 0

Ghaxaq 4

Ghaxaq had the best possible start to the season, when they beat Ta’ Xbiex 4-0 thanks to a brace by Charles Camilleri. Even if Ghaxaq conceded their opponents very few space to construct their game, Ta’ Xbiex were evidently at a loss for ideas and lacked creativity.

Ghaxaq opened the scoring five minutes before the break, when after a precise pass from Bilocca, MICHAEL CIAPPARA’s first timer went home. They went close again on 51 minutes, when the goalkeeper punched the ball away from a corner, with Bilocca’s shot from the rebound hitting the crossbar.

Ghaxaq doubled their lead on 59 minutes, when after a good run, Bilocca went past the custodian and crossed centrally, where CHARLES CAMILLERI easily tapped the ball at the back of the unattended net.

The Greens made them three 15 minutes from time, when CHARLES CAMILLREI fled the opposing defence and chipped the ball past goalkeeper Edwards into the back of the net.

RONALD SPINA sealed the match for his side with five minutes to play, when after receiving from captain Galea, he fired home a powerful strike.

Ta’ Xbiex: D. Edwards, K. Paris, K. Seychell (A. Dominicus), F. Grech, T. Elder, A. Xuereb, J. Azzopardi, C. Wismayer, J. Azzopardi, D. Stergarm R. D’Amato

Ghaxaq: L. Fardell (J. Chetcuti), M. Desira, J. Meilak, M. Busuttil, C. Gatt, R. Spina, C. Camilleri, M. Ciappara, J. Caruana, N. Bilocca, F. Galea

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Marsa 2

Sirens 0

Marsa’s season looks promising this year, after putting on a good display of teamwork against Sirens, beating their opponents 2-0, having also missed a penalty. The referee of the match was Ishmael Barbara, who made his debut as a referee in this match.

Marsa opened the scoring on the half hour mark, when from a cross by Scerri, MALCOLM TIRCHETT rose above everyone to direct a looping header past goalkeeper Spiteri.

Marsa increased their lead on 53 minutes, when after a good run by Tirchett through the Sirens’ defence, he went past the goalkeeper and crossed for CLAYTON CARUANA to tap the ball into the back of the empty net.

Marsa had a good chance of sealing the match four minutes later, when Sirens defender Galea was seen fouling Vella in the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. From the spot, Malcolm Tirchett saw his shot being saved by goalkeeper Spiteri.

Sirens were denied a goal on 66 minutes, when Schembri’s long distance drive hit the crossbar.

Marsa: K. Brincat, D. Agius, L. Cumbo, K. Scerri, C. Cremona, S. Cutajar, A. Ribic (K. Brincat), J. P. Zammit, E. Vella, C. Caruana, M. Tirchett (S. Buhagiar)

Sirens: G. Spiteri, D. Sant, A. Neda, K. Galea, G. Falzon, L. J. Schembri (C. Vella), A. Xuereb, J. Grech, R. Sciberras, A. Debattista, A. Lanzon

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Senglea 0

Marsascala 0

Senglea and Marsascala gained a point each form the encounter between the two, where neither formation managed to penetrate the opposing defence, in a match which offered very few emotions.

The encounter was a very quiet one, with both sides evidently lacking ideas when trying to be offensive.

The best opportunity in the first half came after 24 minutes of play, when from a freekick by Portelli, Dalli’s first timer went slightly high over the crossbar.

The side from Cottonera was awarded a freekick outside the area on 67 minutes. From substitute Galea’s cross, goalkeeper Attard managed to save in style, just as Brincat, who was in an ideal position, was about to tap the ball home.

The match was becoming more physical as time went by, with a series of dangerous and futile fouls on both sides, resulting in a considerable number of booked players.

Marsascala missed a sitter on 77 minutes, when after a misunderstanding in Senglea’s defence, substitute Abela saw his dangerous shot being converted into a corner in style by the goalkeeper.

A few seconds later, goalkeeper Mercieca saved the match once again, when a long-distance drive by Camilleri which seemed destined for the corner of the net, was converted into a corner.

Senglea: J. Mercieca, E. Azzopardi, S. Aquilina, R. Galea,B. Zerafa, V. Camilleri, R. Perkins, P. Camilleri (D. Grech), D. Xuereb (K. Galea), G. Brincat, T. Thomas (J. Abela)

Marsascala: R. Attard, M. Bajada, M. Milutinovic, S. Camilleri, C. Lanzon, E. Gauci, J. Galdes, A. Grech (V. Camilleri), M. Gauci, A. Portelli (N. Abela), B. Dalli (M. Said)

Referee: Eman Grech

Luqa 1

Attard 2

Attard registered their first win of the season when they beat Luqa 2-1, coming back into the match after being 1-0 down early in the match.

Despite having been initially in the lead, Luqa were decidedly inferior than their opponents, and seemed to be constantly toiling to overcome Attard’s defence.

Luqa opened scoring after just four minutes of play, when Chirchop crossed towards ADRIAN PSAILA who rose above everyone and headed the ball home.

Attard had a good chance on the half hour mark, when after receiving from Agius, Iwuene went past two defenders and came face to face with the goalkeeper, but from an ideal position, his shot went inches wide.

Attard’s efforts were rewarded on 48 minutes, when CLINT CARUANA tried his luck from outside the area and took Luqa’s defense by surprise.

Attard’s goalkeeper saved the match momentarily five minutes from time, when after a good action between substitutes Spiteri and Lapira, the custodian converted the shot into a corner in style.

Yet this was not enough, as Attard took the lead for the first time a few seconds form the final whistle, when after a precise cross from Cachia, JEAN PAUL LAPIRA went past two defenders and saw his long-distance drive go past goalkeeper Pisani.

Luqa: P. Pisani, M. Chircop (K. Bruno), M. Psaila (G. Mizzi), F. Caruana, A. Psalia, L. Vella (T. Cauchi), A. Abdilla, C. Marmem, K. Sultana, J. Muscat, J. Good

Attard: L. Attard, O. Tabone, D. Agius, J. C. Cachia, J. Gauci, C. Ciantar, R. Micallef, R. Filipov, J. Iwueke (J. P. Lapira), E. Azzopardi (A. Hili), C. Caruana (N. Spiteri)

Referee: Clayton Pisani

Kalkara 0

Mtarfa 1

Mtarfa registered their first win this season with a narrow win of 1-0 over Kalkara.

The match was well balanced, where despite having lost, Kalkara also had their good moments, especially in the second half, where they seemed even better than their opponents.

The first opportunity of the match came Mtarfa’s way after fifteen minutes of play, when upon receiving from Portelli, Smier’s powerful strike from outside the area skimmed the woodwork.

Ten minutes later, Mtarfa missed a sitter, when after a good run by Zahra through Kalkara’s defence, he came face to face with the goalkeeper, but failed to tap the ball home from an ideal position.

Mtarfa finally opened the scoring a few minutes before the break, when from a precise cross by Portelli from outside the area, OMAR SMIER rose above everyone to direct a looping header past goalkeeper Ellul and into the back of the net.

Kalakra were close to saving the match on 65 minutes, when substitute Cassar tried his luck from outside the area, and saw his shot skimming the crossbar. They went close again 15 minutes from time, when Grima chipped towards substitute Hammet, but saw his shot hitting the upright.

Kalkara: K. Ellul, J. Camilleri, A. Buhagiar (A. Hammet), T. Butterworth (T. Cassar), C. Cassar, D. Gauci, M. Cassar, A. Galea, C. Grima, S. Camilleri (J. Zahra), J. P. Galea

Mtarfa: D. Galea, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, L. Portelli (L. Wingfield), N. Cortis, J. Munjao Mwema, R. Zammit (G. Curmi), A. Zahra, S. Peplow, F. Azzopardi, O. Smier

Referee: Daryl Agius

Swieqi United 2

St Lucia 0

Swieqi United opened the season on a good note when they defeated St Lucia 2-0.

Swieqi started the match on a high when they went in-front after just 10 minutes, with St Lucia expressing their play later in the match.

The Saints had numerous players absent namely Hubert Friggieri, Jason Galea, Antoine Sapiano and Marlon Farrugia.

The first action came from Swieqi when a shot from outside the box by Matthew Fenech finished off target.

Swieqi took the lead on the 10th minute when Fabien Debono recieved a good ball and calmly put past Cilia with a low shot.

On the 21st minute an angled shot on the volley by Clayton Borg finished into the side netting.

Swieqi went close a minute later when Matthew Fenech rounded Cilia but his low shot from an angled position was denied by the post.

The first shot from St Lucia came on the 33rd minute when Christian Bugeja’s effort was saved by Falzon.

Three minutes later Falzon saved again a free-kick by Goodrum.

The second half was more quiet and there wasn’t any action of note until the last minutes. St Lucia were reduced to 10 men after Clayton Goodrum was sent-off.

From the same action the Saints almost equalised when from a free-kick by Chetcuti, Falzon came out though failing to get the ball, but to his team’s fortune substitute Curmi failed to connect.

Swieqi closed the affair on the 90th minute when Debono passed to Matthew Fenech who scored in an empty net.

Swieqi: M. Falzon, B. Buhagiar, S. Decesare (D. McKean), C. Borg, K. Calleja, S. Borg, A. Muscat (E. Scibberas), I. Papagiorcopulo (T. Kurtulush), F. Debono, L. Grima, M. Fenech

Santa Lucia: R. Cilia, C. Bugeja, M. Agius (R. Curmi), J. Vella, C. Goodrum, B. Chetcuti, J. Bugeja, W. Zerafa, F. Abela (S. Lanzon), G. D’Amato, J. Cutajar

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzza

Qrendi 0

Xghajra T. 3

Xghajra Tornadoes won their first match when they beat Qrendi 3-0. Qrendi didn’t offer much resistance where Xghajra had control of the encounter.

They won with two goals close to the break .

The first was very quiet with the first action that came to note was on the 42nd minute when Zammit saved with his legs a shot from Aaron Pendry.

Xghajra took the lead on the 44th minute when Andrew Vella caught Zammit off-guard and with a beautiful shot from outside the box beat Zammit.

After just 18 seconds in the second half Xghajra doubled their lead when Ali Manaf was unmarked and after recieving a good ball put past Zammit for the second goal.

After this goal, the match had a dull moment. Xghajra scored their third goal after they had a penalty from Lizio Grech saved by Zammit but from the rebound the same Grech scored to round the score.

Qrendi: B. Zammit, M. Zammit, S. Scicluna, L. Schembri (J. Muscat), M. Ciantar, D. Facciol, R. Darmanin, L. Magri, M. Ellul, C. Psaila, J. Baldacchino (S. Galea), (A. Muscat)

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, G. Saliba, M. Leonardi, C. Xuereb, A. Vella, D. Axisa, S. Cucciardi, A. Manaf, C. Micallef (L. Grech), C. Magro, A. Pendry (A. Caruana)

Referee: Duncan Sultana