Vittoriosa Stars 0
Pieta Hotspurs 1

A young Pieta Hotspurs team, coached by the experienced Patrick Curmi, yesterday scraped through a boring encounter where poor play dominated with very few goalmouth actions.

Pieta had Neil Pace Cocks and Karl Micallef, both 19, and the experienced John Roland Emeka a cut above the rest. These are still early days but judging on this outing, Richard Mercieca’s Stars need to improve to challenge for promotion.

After seven minutes Mead Mifsud’s chip almost had the better of keeper Lawrence Cauchi following an inviting pass by Pace Cocks.

But, the Hotspurs took the lead on 12 minutes when Pace Cocks hit home from close range after a mazy run by Emeka on the left flank had left his markers trailing in his wake.

Emeka should have doubled the score midway through the half when he drove the ball wide with only the keeper to beat after being put through by Dylan Agius.

There was no action worthy of note after that and those present at the Centenary Stadium had to wait until the first few minutes of the second half to quicken the pulse when Karl Micallef swept past three opponents before releasing Mifsud who hit badly from just outside the box.

But scrappy play again came to the fore and although the Stars did try to apply some pressure on their opponents, they rarely troubled Miguel Montfort in the Hotspurs goal.

Vittoriosa: L. Cauchi, R. Previ, P. Mrkvic (T. Nasiti), A. Galea, C. Sammut, M. Barbara, M. Lukic, S. Meilaq, L. Gauci (D. Fava), M. Camilleri, M. Milivdjev.

Pieta: M. Montfort, K. Micallef, C. Grech, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius (A. Mizzi), M. Mifsud, J. Emeka (J. Scicluna), K. Cesare (D. Zampa), T. Bartolo, A. Rasheed, J. Gorskie.

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.

Man of the match: John Roland Emeka (Pieta).

Gżira United 1
Lija Athletic 0

Without setting any houses on fire, promotion favourites Gżira started off with a win thanks to a first-half goal scored by Moises Avila Perez.

Perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result as Lija had their moments but the Maroons were solid at the back and managed to keep their opponents at bay.

In the initial stages both sides looked more focused on not conceding a goal rather than trying to attack. Gżira had most of the possession but Lija never lied back with Erjon Beu again showing some clever skills.

In fact, the first real goal threat came Beu’s way when he sprinted down the left but his grounder was thwarted by keeper Kyle Gerada.

Play was tough but it was Gżira who drew first blood on the half hour when Avila Perez beat Lija’s Luke Bonnici from close range.

Lija tried to get back into the game and a minute from the break Abdullahi Ige dribbled past a defender, squared the ball to Schembri whose drive was saved by the Maroons custodian.

Lija continued to see more of the ball after the break and an Antoine Borg effort from outside the box was again stopped by Gerada.

The Maroons almost doubled their lead late on but Raphael Kooh Sohna, who had exchanged passes with Tonna, was denied by the woodwork with Bonnici beaten.

Gżira: K. Gerada, L. Martinelli, J. Bondin, G. Aquilina, M. Avila Perez, R. Kooh Sohna (S. Shead), J. Pace, B. Farrugia (C. Caruana), S. Borg, G. Muscat, R. Zome (Y. Tonna).

Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Giordmaina, P. Babic (B. Antignolo), P. Borg, E. Beu, L. Schembri, M. Borg (K. Cutajar), M. Clinch, A. Caruana, A. Ige, A. Borg (J. Garcia Vidal).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Erjon Beu (Lija Athletic).