Swieqi U. 1

Marsa 0

A goal from a free-kick from Lee Grima in the dying moments was enough for Swieqi to secure their second win from three games as they managed to beat Marsa 1-0 to give the Red Blues their first defeat after two consecutive wins.

The match was very mediocre with very few actions worthy to note.

The first shot came in the first minute when a shot from Clayton Caruana was saved by Falzon.

Swieqi had an opportunity on the 9th minute when an overhead kick by Matthew Fenech finished over the bar. On the 31st minute Marsa went close when from a cross by Caruana, a header by Kirsten Brincat finished off target.

The second half continued where the first half finished, and on the 68th minute Marsa went close when Malcolm Tirchett had two opportunities, the first opportunity was saved by Falzon, and the second went off target from an angled position.

Swieqi went close on the 75th minute when a shot from Mark Grech was saved with difficulty by Brincat.

On the 79th minute Dylan Agius crossed to Malcolm Tirchett but his header was saved by Falzon.

Marsa were reduced to 10 men on the 90th minute when Carl Cremona was sent-off for a last man foul.

From the same free-kick Swieqi scored the winning goal when Lee Grima managed to beat Brincat with a beautiful shot that gave Brincat no chance.

Swieqi: M. Falzon, B. Buhagiar, S. Decesare, G. Refalo, A. Micallef (S. Sammut), S. Borg, A. di Silvio, M. Fenech, M. Grech (C. Borg), L. Grima, E. Scibberas (F. Debono)

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

Referee: Daryl Agius

Qrendi 0

Marsaskala 3

Marsaskala won their second consecutive match when they beat Qrendi 3-0 in a match they dominated.

Alan Mifsud’s team was in total control with substitute Nazzareno Abela paving the way for a comfortable win, that with more attention could have became bigger.

On the other hand, Qrendi could not keep up with their opponents and they found it difficult to create opportunities.

Marsaskala broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes when Nazzareno Abela recieved a good ball and with a good volley beat Farrugia.

Alan Mifsud’s team doubled eight minutes later. It was a sfortunate action for Qrendi as goalkeeper Mark Farrugia came out to clear the danger but his kick clashed with Nazzareno Abela who scored his second goal.

Marsaskala could have made the score 3-0 in the stoppage time but the unmarked Andy Portelli shot wide. Qrendi also had their chance but Attard saved a shot form close range by Magri.

Qrendi were reduced to 10 men four minutes into the second half when Claudio Gatt was sent-off.

Marsaskala were dandgerous again on the 55th minute when a shot from Matthew Gauci was saved by Farrugia after a personal action.

Marsaskala scored their third goal on the 70th minute when Andy Portelli rounded Farrugia and scored in an empty net. Matthew could have widened the margin on the 77th minute but shot out in an empty net. On the 85th minute Portelli passed to Matthew Gauci but he was again denied by Farrugia.

Qrendi: M. Farrugia, M. Zammit, C. Psaila (A. Muscat), S. Scicluna, D. Mula, M. Ellul (D. Farrugia), P. Bezzina, R. Darmanin, L. Magri, C. Gatt, D. Facciol (J. Muscat)

Marsaskala: R. Attard, M. Bajada, C. Bordieri, S. Camilleri, C. Lanzon, E. Gauci, A. Grech, M. Milutinovic, A. Portelli, M. Gauci, B. Dalli (N. Abela)

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Mtarfa 1

Mdina 4

Mdina registered their second consecutive victory this season with a comfortable victory of 4-1 over Mtarfa, thus starting their campaign with maximum points. This was the first defeat for Mtarfa, having won their first encounter against Kalkara.

Mtarfa were first to take the lead after just eight minutes of play, when goalkeeper Aquilina blocked but did not retain a shot by Smier, and from the rebound, FRANCESCO AZZOPARDI hit home.

Mdina were back in the match on the half hour mark, when amidst confusion in Mtarfa’s defence, Giorgio Cumbo put the ball at the back of his own net. Three minutes later, Francalanza went close when his header on a cross by Buhagiar skimmed the woodwork.

Mdina took the lead for the first time on 70 minutes, when following an initiative by Cremona who went past two defenders, MARK CREMONA hit home with a low shot from a short distance.

Seven minutes later, Mdina were awarded a penalty when substitute Vella fouled Stoyanov. From the spot, KRISTIYAN STOYANOV beat Galea. They sealed the match ten minutes from time, with a splendid cross-shot by ADRIAN GATT, from a considerable distance, and from a very acute angle, which took goalkeeper Galea completely by surprise.

Mtarfa: D. Galea, J. Fenech, A. Zahra, R. Sammut, G. Cumbo, J. Muema Munjao (L. Vella), R. Zammit, S. Peplow (A. Micallef), F. Azzopardi (G. Curmi), K. Said, O. Smier

Mdina: M. Aquilina, A. Gatt, D. Caruana, R. Southward, M. Camilleri (M. Cremona), Y. Grech, K. Grech, K. Stoyanov, J. Buhagiar, L. Busuttil (L. Buhagiar), M. Francalanza (G. Camilleri)

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzzo

Kalkara 1

Xghajra 6

Kalkara suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Xghajra on Sunday afternoon, thus having to postpone the chance of registering their first point this season for their next outing.

Xghajra opened the scoring 8 minutes into the match, when Vella crossed centrally towards DARREN GALEA who hit home with a low shot.

Kalkara were back in the match on 37 minutes thanks to CONRAD TABONE’s equaliser, who in a personal initiative, fled Xghajra’s defence, went past the goalkeeper and tapped the ball home between the unguarded posts.

Xghajra took the lead again on 42 minutes, when goalkeeper Ellul blocked but did not hold Galea’s effort, with DALTON WINGFIELD hitting home from the rebound.

Xghajra never looked back and made them three early in the second half, when Vella fled Kalkara’s defence and chipped central towards DARREN GALEA who headed the ball home. They were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes for Hammet’s foul on Galea. Galea tried his luck from the spot but saw his effort being saved in style by Ellul. Yet from the rebound, DALTON WINGFIELD easily tapped the ball at the back of the net.

Xghajra further increased their lead 15 minutes from time, when on a cross by Galea, substitute AARON PENDRY rose above everyone to direct a looping header at the back of the net. They sealed the match a few instances from stoppage time, with a splendid long-distance drive by LIZIO GRECH.

Kalkara: K. Ellul, C. Tabone, D. Gauci, P. Muscat, C. Grima, M. Cassar, A. Musha, C. Cassar, J. Zahra (A. Hammet), C. Zammit, J. P. Galea (J. Camilleri)

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

Referee: Gordon Barbara

Ta’ Xbiex 1

Sirens 2

Ta’ Xbiex’s return to the BOV local football leagues is so far certainly not going according to plan, where after three outings, the newcomers are still without a point.

On the other hand, Sirens showed positive signs of improvement, and after having lost their first two encounters, they registered their first three points on Sunday evening, especially thanks to promising youngster Lee Joe Schembri.

Ta’ Xbiex opened the scoring after 21 minutes of play, when goalkeeper Spiteri blocked but did not retain RYAN D’AMATO’s shot, and from the rebound it was the same forward who tapped the ball at the back of the net.

Sirens managed to equalise ten minutes later, when from a personal initiative by

LEE JOE SCHEMBRI who fled the opposing defence on the left flank, his low shot form an acute angle went past goalkeeper Edwards.

On 60 minutes, it was once again LEE JOE SCHEMBRI who went through Ta’ Xbiex’s defence, and surprised Edwards with a precise chip.

Schembri was close to increasing his side’s lead 15 minutes from time, when his long-distance shot was cleared form over the line by defender Jeffrey Azzopardi.

Ta’ Xbiex: G. Edwards, K. Paris, J. Azzopardi, F. Grech (J. Pace), J. Cremona, A. Xuereb, D. Stergar, C. Wismayer, J. Azzopardi (D. Bianco), J. Woodhead, R. D’Amato

Sirens: G. Spiteri, D. Sant, A. NEda, K. Galea, L. J. Schembri, G. Falzon (C. Vella), C. Pickard, A. Debattista, R. Bonnett, A. Lanzon (M. Psaila), J. Grech

Referee: Martin Borg

Senglea 6

St Lucia 0

St Lucia suffered their third consecutive defeat on Sunday, when they were beaten by Senglea with the big score of 6-0, thus sinking to the bottom of the grid, where together with Kalkara, they are still without a point.

KEVIN GALEA opened the score for the side from Cottonera on 37 minutes from a personal intiative, with SIMON AQUILINA doubling the score barely a minute later.

St Lucia tried to offer some resistance, but their efforts were penalised when shortly into the second half, TREVOR THOMAS made the score 3-0.

The side from Cottonera scored a further three goals in the last 10 minutes. TIMMY THOMAS hit home ten minutes from time with a powerful effort, and five minutes later KEVIN GALEA scored his second goal, taking the opposing defence by surprise.

TIMMY THOMAS sealed the match a few instances from the final whistle with a low shot.

Senglea: J. Mercieca, E. Azzoppardi, S. Aquilina, R. Galea, B. Zerafa, V. Camilleri (J. Spiteri), R. Perkins, P. Camilleri (R. Vella), T. Thomas, K. Galea, T. Thomas (J. Abela)

St Lucia: R. Cilia, A. Genovese, H. Friggieri, C. Goodrum, J. Galea (M. Pace), J. Bugejja, B. Chetcuti, W. Zerafa (J. Fenech), M. Farrugia, G. D'amato (F. Abela), J. Cutajar

Referee: Clayton Pisani

Ghaxaq 1

Luqa 0

Ghaxaq registered their second victory this season with the minimal score, thanks to a penalty kick scored by Leonard Alla. This was the second defeat for Luqa, where after three outings, they have only acquired one point so far.

The first action worthy of note in the first half came shortly before the break, when Leonard Alla crossed towards Sakchai, who saw his long-distance drive skimming the upright.

Luqa had a good chance early into the second half, when after receiving from Good, Esamosa fled the opposing defence, went past two defenders including the goalkeeper, but his shot form inside the area went incredibly high.

The only goal of the match came on 55 minutes, when Ghaxaq were awarded a penalty for Good’s handling in the area. From the spot, LEONARD ALLA did not miss.

Shortly before the final whistle, Ghaxaq were down to 10 men, when susbtitute Franrich Schembri was sent off for dissent.

Luqa: P. Psaila, J. Muscat (S. Gatt), A. Psalia, C. Saliba, C. Marney, E. Caruana, G. Mizzi (G. Azzopardi), J. Good, J. Esamosa, L. Vella, Neil. Chircop

Ghaxaq: L. Fardell, L. Alla, M. Busuttil, C. Gatt, R. Spina, M. Ciappara (F. Schembri), J. Fenech, N. bilocca, F. Galea, P. Sakchai, E. Dimech

Referee: Ismael Barbara