Naxxar Lions 4
St Andrew’S 0
Naxxar Lions Are The New Division One Leaders After They Eased Past A St Andrew’S Side Who Were Forced To Play Practically The Whole Match With A Player Less Following The Early Dismissal Of Goalkeeper Matthew Towns.
For The Saints This Was Their Third Defeat In Four Matches While For Naxxar This Was Their Fifth Win Of The Season That Lifted Them One Point Clear At The Top Of The Standings.
The Lions Forged Ahead After Only Six Minutes When Saints Keeper Towns Floored Gilbert Camilleri In The Box And The Referee Immediately Pointed To The Spot And Dismissed The Saints Goalkeeper.
Zach Valletta Replaced Towns In Goal But The 18-Year-Old Could Do Nothing To Keep Out Andre Rocha Da Silva’S Shot From The Spot.
Naxxar Almost Made It 2-0 On 20 Minutes But Anthony Ewurun’S Lob Finished Just Over.
Da Silva Thought He Had Added A Second On 27 Minutes When He Seemed To Have Pushed The Ball Over The Line Before William Camilleri Cleared But The Referee Waved Play On.
Two Minutes Before The Break Camilleri Made It 2-0 When His Firm Drive Had The Better Of Valletta.
The Woodwork Denied The Saints On 50 Minutes When Michael Grima’S Header Came Off The Bar.
However, It Was Naxxar Who Struck Again On 55 Minutes When From A Da Silva Corner Kick, Camilleri Headed The Ball Home.
On 75 Minutes Da Silva Headed Home From An Ewurun Delivery As The Lions Cruised Home To A Straightforward Victory.
Naxxar: L. Pecorella; L. Micallef, J. Vella, P. Doffo, S. Eboh, V. Bellia, A. Rocha Da Silva, Jur. Debono(John Debono), G. Camilleri (D. Falzon), A. Buhagiar, A. Ewurun (R. Cassar).
St Andrew’S: M. Towns; P. Briscoe White (M. Johnson), B. Diacono, W. Camilleri, B. Said, J. Farrugia, J. Briscoe White, K. Mifsud Bonnici (A. Amato), N. Vella Petroni (Z. Valletta), M. Grima, R. Kerekov.
Referee: Fiodor Zammit
Man Of The Match: Andrea Rocha Da Silva (Naxxar Lions).
Gudja United 3
Mqabba 0
Gudja Continued With Their Fine Form Of Late To Notch Up Their Fifth Win Of The Season.
Without Setting Any Houses On Fire, The Newly Promoted Side Showed Passion And Guile Especially In Midfield And In Attack With Ryan Sell In Excellent Form.
On Their Part Mqabba Continued To Disappoint To Stay Firmly At The Bottom Of The Table Without A Win In 10 Matches.
The Initial Stages Were Quiet And Although Gudja Had Most Of The Possession Both Rearguards Were Rarely Tested.
But The Game Changed Course After Gudja Scored The Opener On The Half Hour When Kiril Aleksandrov Hit Home With His Instep Following A Karl Azzopardi Corner.
Now It Was All Gudja And Six Minutes Later Alan Abela’S Dipping Shot From The Edge Of The Area Was Deflected To A Corner.
Five Minutes From The Break, Sell Was Unlucky As In A Quick Break His Saw His Lob Hit The Bar.
It Was No Surprise That Noel Burke’S Side Scored A Second Two Minutes Before The Break When Alan Abela Nodded
The Ball Into The Path Of Azzopardi, Whose Half Volley Beat Kris Calleja.
Sell Made His Mark On The Game On 77 Minutes When Following A Quick Counter Break He Dribbled Past Andrew Scicluna And Beat Calleja With A Low Drive.
Gudja: M. Xerxen, R. Buhagiar, E. Vella, A. Abela (K. Polidano), J. Tonna, R. Kovachev, K. Bonello (G. Chircop), K. Azzopardi, I. Kurtusic (D. Bonnici), R. Sell, K. Aleksandrov.
Mqabba: K. Calleja; A. Scicluna, C. Cutajar (C. Calleja), M.A. Psaila, K. Igwe,C. Camoin, J. Okonkwo, P. Anizoba, E. Lattes, O. Buhagiar (J.P. Orianski).
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Man Of The Match: Ryan Sell (Gudja).