Birzebbuga beat Melita to take sole leadership

Melita 1
Birzebbuga 2

Melita lost their unbeaten record and Birzebbuga are now the sole leaders after winning a lively top-of-the-table clash.

Melita looked to gain the upperhand early on but found it hard to impose their play against a solid Birzebbuga defence.

Melita's first threat to keeper Matthew Xerxen came in the 21st minute from a Matthew Borg I free-kick which shaved the upright.

Xerxen did well to save two other Borg I shots as Birzebbuga hit back in the 38th minute when a Johan Zammit pass was picked up by Jeffrey Zammit whose shot was stopped by Matthew Sapiano.

Seven minutes into the second half, Melita took a deserved lead following an excellent Matthew Borg II volley after good work by Michael Martin.

Matthew Borg I missed a sitter for the Amateurs and his team were made to pay dearly for that 12 minutes from time when Johan Zammit headed home Birzebbuga's equaliser.

The Melita woodwork denied Jeffrey Zammit from a goal but Birzebbuga's late rally paid off as they scored the winner six minutes from time.

Substitute Ronnie Celeste slid the ball home after a Johan Zammit header had bounced off the post.

Melita: M. Sapiano, M. Stivala (J. Mifsud), D. Azzopardi, M. Mamo, D. Gravino, M. Martin, M. Hyzler (K. Micallef), J. Galea, M. Borg II, B. Bondin (S. Galea), M. Borg I.

Birzebbuga: M. Xerxen, M. Ciappara (J. Cassar), D. Baldac-chino, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, Jeff. Zammit, Joh. Zammit, D. Gatt (K. Polidano), E. Azzopardi, L. Burke (R. Celeste).

Referee: Darren Calleja.

St Andrew's 1
Sirens 1

St Andrew's were slipping fast to a third consecutive defeat but Anthony Gera scored a last-gasp equaliser to get his team off the mark.

Sirens took only eight minutes to forge ahead when Adrian Galea's powerful drive had the better of Tabone in the Saints goal.

Galea went close again soon after but this time Tabone was alert to save the shot. A lob by Ryan Theuma on 34 minutes was cleared off the St Andrew's goalline.

The Saints held possession for most of the second period with keeper Romeo Schembri in fine form to deny Gera, Michael Calleja and Jeremy Gatt Coleiro.

Sirens looked home and dry but a minute from time the Saints scored a merited equaliser through Gera.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, J. Galea, S. Falzon, J. Sank (T. Sullivan), Ant. Galea (J. Gatt Coleiro), P. Briscoe White (A. Tabone), J. Briscoe White, M. Calleja, A. Gera, Ad. Galea.

Sirens: R. Schembri, J. Camilleri (M. Sciberras), G. Magri, C. Muscat, I. Borg, A. Galea, A. Xuereb (G. Galea), N. Mercieca, J. Mallia, R. Theuma, Giov. Galea (P. Barbara).

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Naxxar Lions 0
Sta Venera Lightnings 1

Sta Venera dictated play for long stretches and eventually obtained their first win of the season with James Galea breaking the deadlock six minutes from time.

Bjorn Attard, the Naxxar keeper, was first to be called into action when saving a Melvin Agius free-kick in the initial stages of a balanced first half.

Kevin Fenech, of Naxxar, had an effort cleared in time by Andrew Hili and at the other end Attard did well to stop another menacing Agius free-kick. Fenech then saw his shot saved with difficulty by Elvin Attard.

Naxxar's Attard was kept busy for most of the second half. He saved shots from Hili and Micallef but could do nothing on 84 minutes when he was taken by surprise following a James Galea drive from the distance.

Naxxar: B. Attard, J. Grech, R. Farrugia, M. Spiteri Gonzi, A. Galea, S. Mercieca, K. Fenech, A. Fenech, G. Ancilleri (J. Cremona), C. Farrugia (A. Bartolo), K. Naudi.

Sta Venera: E. Attard, A. Micallef, M. Agius, C. Abela (D. Piccinino), J. Scicluna, D. Demanuele (Y.M. Law), G. Micallef, A. Hili, I. Falzon, J. Galea, M. Grech (J. Felice).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Lija Athletic 0
Rabat Ajax 1

Lija suffered their first defeat of the season when they were beaten by Rabat who played for most of the match with ten players following Chris Schembri's first-half sending-off.

Rabat had Alan Zahra and Kayne Said in the thick of the action early in the match as Lija relied on striker Glen Barry to try and find a way through.

Midway through the half, Barry advanced all alone but the Rabat keeper rushed out of his goal to block with his feet.

Rabat took the lead a few minutes later following a powerful shot by Darren Galea.

Galea was again close in the 33rd minute but four minutes later Rabat ended up with ten players as Schembri was sent off for a second caution.

Lija laid siege on the Rabat goal after the break but the Magpies were quite menacing with their swift counter-attacks.

In the 51st minute the Rabat keeper stopped a shot by Daniel Cremona while attempts by Barry and Alan Medati flew just over the bar.

In one of their fast breaks, Rabat could have doubled their lead but Adam Smeir missed his chance as the Magpies finished on a high.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Cachia, E. Azzopardi, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, D. Cremona (A. Medati), C. Ciantar (H. Friggieri), M. Cremona (A. Scicluna), G. Barry, B. Antignolo.

Rabat: T. Spiteri, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, P. Ciantar (D. Falzon), C. Micallef, A. Zahra, K. Said (E. Muscat), D. Galea, M. Micallef, C. Schembri, A. Smeir.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.