Marsa 0

Senglea 1

Senglea’s progress this season kept getting better on Saturday afternoon, when they narrowly beat Marsa 1-0, extending their tally to four victories out of four outings. This was the second consecutive defeat for Marsa, who after having won their first two encounters, now seem to have entered a crisis.

The match was highly uneventful, with very little action on both sides. The only action worthy of note in the first half came 20 minutes into the match, when after a good run by Caruana on the left flank, Brincat’s effort from an ideal position skimmed the upright.

Marsa went close on 69 minutes, when after fleeing the opposing defence, Brincat chipped towards Caruana who tried his luck, but saw his shot being blocked by the defence. From the rebound, substitute Zammit saw his shot go slightly high.

With 15 minutes to play, the side from Cottonera went close when Trevor Thomas displayed good ball control on a cross from Brincat, but his weak shot was too central and was easily dismissed by Marsa’s defence.

The only goal of the match came ten minutes from time, when from a corner, TIMMY THOMAS’ shot from an acute angle ended up at the back of the net.

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

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

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzzo

Ghaxaq 0

Kalkara 4

After having a disastrous start this season, Kalkara obtained their first points with a convincing victory over Ghaxaq 4-0, with all goals being scored by Abduljawed Musha.

To the contrary this was the first defeat for Ghaxaq in this campaign, who had a good start so far.

Kalkara dictated play all throughout, barely giving their opponents time to be offensive, and having the possibility to further increase their tally on more than one occasion.

Kalkara opened the scoring 27 minutes into the match, when from a freekick outside the area by Muscat, ABDULJAWED MUSHA rose above everyone to direct a looping header past goalkeeper Fardell.

Musha beat Fardell again on the half hour mark, when from a personal initiative, he went past two defenders and hit home with a low shot.

Kalkara further increased their lead on 64 minutes, when Musha tried his luck from a short distance, surprising the opposing defence.

The Greens sealed the match four minutes later, when after a good run by captain Cassar on the left who crossed central MUSHA scored his fourth with a low shot from an acute angle.

Kalkara: C. Bajada, M. Agius, D. Gauci, P. Muscat, C. Grima, J. Zahra, M. Cassar, A. Musha, J. Camilleri, A. Hammet (C. Cassar), C. Tabone (J. Caruana)

Ghaxaq: L. Fardell, L. Alla, J, Fenech (M. Busuttil), M. Ciappara, C. Gatt, R. Spina, J. Caruana (C. Camilleri), N. Bilocca, F. Galea, P. Sakchai, D. Falzon (K. Borg)

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

Mtarfa 1

Swieqi 4

Swieqi registered a comfortable 4-1 victory over Mtarfa, moving to second place on the grid with nine points, after winning three matches out of four.

This was the second consecutive defeat for Mtarfa, who after three outings are still with just three points.

Swieqi opened the scoring after 14 minutes of play, when MATTHEW FENECH tried his luck from outside the area, and suspired goalkeeper Galea with a low but powerful shot.

They further increased their lead two minutes into the second half, when FABIEN DEBONO took full advantage of some uncertainty in the opposing defence, and tapped the ball at the back of the net. They took a three-goal lead on 65 minutes, when MATTHEW FENECH beat Galea with a crafty lob from an acute angle.

Mtarfa tried to get back in the match three minutes later, when from a fast counter-attack, DODI HARUNA fled the opposing defence from the middle of the pitch, and tapped the ball home from inside the area.

Swieqi were not put off, and sealed the match on 69 minutes, when in an unfortunate event, Galea passed the ball to MATTHEW FENECH, who scored his third and easiest goal with  low shot.

Mtarfa: D. Galea, L. Wingfield, R. Sammut, N. Cortis, J. Fenech, J. Munjao Mwema, G. Cumbo, A. Zahra, R. Zammit, F. Azzopardi (P. Azzopardi), D. Haruna

Swieqi: M. Falzon, G. Refalo, J. Ellul Soler (A. Muscat), C. Borg, K. Calleja, S. Borg, A. Di Silvio (T. Kurtulush), M. Fenech (I. Papagiorcopulo), F. Debono, L. Grima, E. Sciberras)

Referee: Martin Borg

St Lucia 1

Ta’ Xbiex 0

After having suffered three rather humiliating defeats, St Lucia won their first battle on Saturday - a narrow 1-0 victory over bottom side Ta’ Xbiex, who after four outings, are still without a single point.

The only goal of the match came on 47 minutes, when amidst some confusion in Ta’ Xbiex’ area, JOSEPH JOHN CUTAJAR took full benefit of the situation and tapped the ball home.

The best and only chance for Ta’ Xbiex came 15 minutes from time, when after receiving from Azzopardi, Taylor tried his luck from outside the area, but saw his shot skimming the upright.

St Lucia: R. Cilia, M. Pace, H. Friggieri, C. Goodrum, J. Galea, J. Bugeja (S. L. Lanzon), B. Chetchuti, A. Genovese, M. Farrugia, G. D’Amato (J. Vella), J. Cutajar (K. Curmi)

Ta’ Xbiex: G. Edwards, K. Paris, J. Azzopardi, A. Xuereb, J. Cremona, C. Wismayer (F. Grech), R. D’Amato, J. Azzopardi, A. Taylor (D. Steroar), J. Woodhead (M. Ganado), A. Dominicus

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Sirens 1

Qrendi 0

Qrendi are still without a victory after four outings, and on Saturday afternoon they suffered their third loss, this time at the hands of Sirens with the final score of 1-0.

This was the second consecutive victory for Sirens, who after having had a difficult start to the season by losing their first two encounters, now seem to be finding their feet and getting back on track.

Sirens opened the scoring 22 minutes into the match, when after a precise long pass from Sciberras, COLIN VELLA went past goalkeeper Farrugia and tapped the ball at the back of the uncostoded net.

They went close again on 47 minutes, when Sciberras tried his luck from outside the area, but the goalkeeper was highly attentive and saved comfortably.

Qrendi best chance came on 50 minutes; when on a cross by Ciantar, Borg’s shot from an acute angle, hit the crossbar, with the ball being cleared away by Sirens’ defence.

Qrendi were down to 10 men 10 minutes from time, when goalkeeper Mark Farrugia was sent off for dissent. Seeing as all substitutions had been availed of, player Davide Mula took his place between the posts.

Three minutes from the final whistle, Qrendi had another player sent off. This time it was Clive Psaila who was shown the red card, for retaliating after suffering a foul by substitute Bonnet.

Sirens: G. Spiteri, C. Vella (R. Bonett), D. Sant, A. Neda (R. Theuma), K. Galea, L. J. Schembri, R. Sciberras (G. Gatt), G. Falzon, A. Debattista, J. Grech, M. Psaila

Qrendi: M. Farrugia, M. Zammit, C. Psaila, S. Magro (D. Farrugia), D. Mula, D. Facciol (S. Scicluna), M. Ciantar, A. Muscat, A. Saliba, J. Borg, P. Bezzina

Referee: Ismael Barbara