St Andrews 0

Lija A 3

Lija Athletics joined Marsaxlokk at the top of the standings after a stunning display against unbeaten side St Andrews. The Saints came a cropper after two consecutive victories against a brilliant Lija side.

Needless to say it was a more than a deserved victory for Lija who scored an early goal and two quick goals at the start of the second half to put the issue beyond doubt.

Albanian Erjon Beu scored a beauty and was surely a delight to watch, whilst Abdullahi Ige was an asset to the side managed by Brian Spiteri.

Lija settled in immediately and it was no surprise that they took the lead on 8 minutes when Ige passed towards Antoine Sacco who showed all his worth in front of goal when he rounded goalkeeper Towns before finishing in style.

But after this promising start the match resulted in a boring affair with St Andrew’s never putting a foot right. On their part Lija controlled the match and almost doubled the score on 32 minutes when Beppe Aintignolo’s cross shot was partially saved by Towns, but Erjon Beu failed to connect for the rebound.

Erjon Beu was sharper on 42 minutes but his effort from the edge of the area best chance when Rumen Kerekov’s scorcher was brilliantly saved by Bonnici.

On the resumption Lija went close after only thirty seconds when Ige’s effort missed the base of the upright by inches. Two minutes later Lija doubled the score when Albanian Erjon Beu scored a beauty from the edge of the area giving Matthew Towns no chance to save.

A minute later the Saints went close when Joseph Farrugia crossed from the right towards Kerekov whose header slammed against the crossbar. On 50 minutes Lija made it three when Erjon Beu sped on the left flank and crossed low towards Antoine Sacco who fired in the top corner from two meters.

The match was now dead and buried, with Lija in the driving seat going close on several other occasions and the win could have even bigger.

St. Andrew’s – M. Towns, N. Chetcuti, L. Cesareo, W. Camilleri, B. Said, S. Kadri (M. Desira Buttigieg 53 min) , J. Farrugia, A. Amato (J. Briscoe White 53 min), N. Vella Petroni (M. Hyzler 72 min), R. Kerekov, T. Grozev.

Lija A – L. Bonnici, T. Fleri Soler, C. Giordmaina, M. Fleri Soler, D. Scerri, E. Beu (D. Vukovic 90 min), E. Briffa, A. Scicluna, B. Antignolo (B. Camilleri 75 min), A. Ige, A. Sacco (R. Severino Goncalves 63 min)

Referee – Alan Mario Sant