Sirens 0

Zejtun C  4

Zejtun crushed Sirens yesterday evening to register yet another victory to keep the promotion challenge activated. Sirens were in the game in the first part but fizzled out after missing a glorious chance at the start of the second half.

Zejtun immediately took the initiative and forged ahead on fourteen minutes when from a corner action Yessous Camilleri headed home, with the ball receiving a deflection from Sirens captain Daniel Sant.

Sirens hit back a Fieramosca shot from an ideal position, but his effort went well over the bar. Sirens had some good moments in attack, but without Giovanni Galea, they lacked the necessary punch. On the other hand Zejtun were always menacing when in possession and Marmara had to stretch to the limit to save an El Hussieny freekick on 30 minutes.

Two minutes later Marmara mistimed his sortie with the ball coming to Ryan Dalli who failed to capitalise sending well over the bar. Just before the break Sirens almost drew level when Luke Galea beat the offisde trap but his shot missed the base of the upright by a whisker.

The second half started with Sirens missing a gloriuos chance in front of goal with Michael Micallef failing to head home from three meters. On 51 minutes Adam Smeir’s drive was well saved by Marmara.

On 57 minutes Zejtun made it two when from a corner action, the Sirens defence failed to clear and Saturday Nanapere was on hand to hit home.

Fifteen minutes from time Zejtun made it three when Adrian Carabott headed home a well taken freekick by Saturday Nanapere. Ther was more to come as on 81 minutes Adam Smeir rocketed the ball at the back of the net after several attempts from various players were somehow blocked on the goal line.

Sirens: R. Marmara, L. Zammit, R. Previ, D. Sant, J.N. Azzopardi, I. Curmi, E. Fieramosca, L. Galea, D. Agius, E. Goodman, M. Micallef

Żejtun C: D. Zarb, C. Giordemaina, D. Albanese (A. Scozzese 80 min), S. Nanapere, G. Sultana, R. Dalli (B. Farrugia 49 min), A. Carabott, O. El Hussieny (J. Sato 64 min), A. Smeir, J. Galea, Y. Camilleri

Referee: Clayton Pisani

San Gwann dent Mqabba’s hopes

San Gwann  2

Mqabba  1

San Gwann registered their sixth successive victory beating promotion aspirants Mqabba by the odd goal in three.

San Gwann had a goal disallowed in the opening minutes and missed a sitter through a Henshaw header. On their part Mqabba tested Bartolo with shots from Chimezie and Karl Cutajar, and were unlucky on fifteen minutes when a Chimezie effort was partially blocked by Bartolo and from the rebound Gianfranco Micallef’s drive smashed against the crossbar.

Half way through the first half San Gwann took the lead when Godwin Henshaw scored a beauty from an acute angle finishing off a great San Gwann move. Minutes later San Gwann almost doubled the score when Sergio Hili raced to along ball and with only Debono to beat lobbed slightly wide. 

Three minutes from the break Mqabba drew level when Paul Chimezie scored with a glorious header following a cross from the left by Cutajar.

Mqabba pushed forward at the start of the second half and went close with a Michael Borg freekick that was brilliantly saved by Bartolo. Henshaw missed a good opportunity and on the other end Paul Chimezie managed to dribble past the goalkeeper but defender Azzopardi recovered in time.

Fourteen minutes from time San Gwann took the lead when Arieta Suarez dribbled his way inside the area to beat Debono with a low drive.

San Ġwann: E. Bartolo, A. Cachia, G. Henshaw, T. Lopes De Souza, A. Borg, J. Azzopardi, K. Gatt, M. Arieta Suarez (S. Ogundare 81 min), J. Bowman, D. Fenech (S. Hili 8 min)(A. Abela 90 min), C. Gauci

Mqabba: J. Debono, R. Tanti, N. Ojoula, M. Borg (A. Scicluna 78 min), R. Mandic (T. Trebovac 78 min), K. Cutajar (S. Darmanin 83 min), P. Chimezie, M. Del Negro, G. Micallef, B. Muscat, L. Micallef

Referee: Mario Apap

Marsa claim victory in relegation battle

Marsa  4

Zabbar SP  2

Marsa obtained a valuable victory in the direct relegation clash, deservedly beating Zabbar in an entertaining match. Marsa are now a mere point behind the same Zabbar, and four points above Melita who are now in a desperate position.

Needing the victory at all costs, Marsa went all out on the attck from the initial whistle and after some attempts at goal they took the lead on 17 minutes when De Fex Marriaga passed towards Luka Mijic who beat Grech with a grounder.

Strangely enough Zabbar were timid in their approach and failed to react, with Marsa continuing to pile the pressure. In the final minutes of the first half the Zabbar custodian charged out of position to block Mark Gauci who was heading for goal.

But on 42 minutes Marsa doubled the score again through Luka Mijic’s low shot and just before the break a Mark Gauci deflected shot almost finished at the back of the net.

Nine minutes into the second half Zabbar were back in business when Shalon Diacono beat Galea with a good shot. But Zabbar’s joy was shortlived as two minutes later Marsa re-established their two goal cushion when Rafael De Fex Marriaga headed home from close range.

There was more to come as after another two minutes Zabbar again pulled one back when Christian Stewart first-timed beautifully home a Diacono cross from the left. Marsa however kept their cool and the control of the match with De Fex Marriaga going close again with eight minutes to go.

Sixty seconds later Zabbar were reduced to ten men when their top scorer Kurt Borg was sent for a second booking. In stoppage time Marsa put their minds completely at rest with a fourthy goal scored by substitute Dylan Pirotta after a fast break.

Marsa: W. Galea, E. Grech (M. Busuttil), N. Micallef, A. Caruana (R. Mercieca), V. Stanic (D. Pirotta), J. Farrugia, M. Camilleri, P. Lapira, R. de Fex Marriaga, L. Mijic, M. Gauci

Żabbar SP: J. Grech, K. Borg, D. Pace, S. Cesare, C. Magro (C. Camilleri), C. Stewart, S. Diacono, D. Micallef, D. Aquilina, A. Pulis, N. Silva Canas

Referee: Jude Ameen Utulu

Vittoriosa cruise to easy victory

Vittoriosa S  4

Rabat A  0

Vittoriosa cruised to an easy victory yesterday against bottom of the table side Rabat Ajax in a one sided affair.

Rabat are practically doomed to second division football next season and yesterday they were never in the game.

After a couple of attempts in the opening minutes Vittoriosa took the lead on ten minutes thanks to a Jo Jo Ogunuppe strike.

Eight minutes later Vittorisa doubled the score when Tanuya Arakawa chased a long baall to drill home poast a helpless Vella.

Rabat had nothing to offer and Vittoriosa continued to dictate scoring a third goal on 38 minutes after missing several other chances.

It was Nello Arriagaga who fired home from the edge of the area.

In the second haalf Vittoriosa did press much as they were more than happy with their three-goal lead, but on 76 minutes the Stars were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement and Arriagaga made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Vittoriosa S: K. Magri, A. Farrugia, K. Degiorgio, T. Arababua, I. Abela, D. Fava, J. Ogonuppe, C. Spiteri (L. Baldacchino), D. Tabone, D. Pisani (J. pace), F. Nello Arriagaga

Rabat A: J.M. Vella, N. Attard (D. Borg), J. Caruana, S. Gauci (M. Scicluna), S. Abela, G. Bugeja, A. Azzopardi, W. Borg, N. Ciantar, L. Cauchi, Z. Tanti (K. Camilleri)

Referees: Sandro Spiteri