Front-runners held

Nadur Youngsters 0
Ghajnsielem 0

Champions Nadur missed the chance to stay top of the standings after being held to a goalless draw by Ghajnsielem in their penultimate match of the second round.

All in all, the outcome was fair as the Blacks were the better side in the first half but Nadur showed brighter ideas after the change of ends.

The Youngsters had to make do without Joseph C. Portelli while Ghajnsielem had Jeremy Camilleri and Blanco de Castro missing.

The two sides created some good scoring opportunities even though Ghajnsielem enjoyed more possession. Zdenek Svoboda set up Nadur's best chances as Blacks' keeper Victor Agius made the best save of the day when turning away for corner a shot by Nkwankwo.

Midway through the first half, the Blacks were unlucky when Larry Buttigieg's cross-shot hit the bar.

Nadur held the initiative for most of the second half but to no avail. The closest they came to finding a breakthrough was with a Marius Filip effort, following a Svoboda corner, that ended just wide.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, M. Filip, B. Meilak, M. Portelli, Z. Svoboda, J. Buttigieg, F.P. Azzopardi, A. Portelli, E. Nkwankwo.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, R. Apap, J. Attard, M. Bucur, L. Buttigieg, S. Azzopardi, F.L. Galea (A. Buttigieg).

Referee: Paul Apap.

Xewkija Tigers 0
Kercem Ajax 7

Lowly Xewkija failed to keep up the good work from previous matches as they were trounced by Kercem for whom Jerry Ani scored four of the seven goals.

Ani headed home after 13 minutes from a Jason Portelli cross. Three minutes later, the Nigerian had another 'goal' disallowed for offside.

In the 17th minute, Milos Stojanovic looked to have scored but Xewkija keeper Joseph Grima somehow managed to fist the ball away amid Ajax players' claims that the ball had already crossed the line.

The score became 2-0 four minutes later, Ani firing home after being put through by Portelli. Ani completed his hat-trick five minutes before half-time with another unstoppable drive.

A header by Stojanovic, following a cross by Elton Vella, increased Kercem's lead four minutes into the second half.

Vella then got his name on the scoresheet when making it 5-0 in the 59th minute and Stojanovic added another soon after.

Ani rounded up a good day for the Ajax with a fourth personal goal in the final stages following a Stojanovic corner.

Xewkija: J. Grima, S. Farrugia, P. Camilleri, J. Dingli, J. Cefai, A. Fotso, M. Pace, P. Rapa, R. Said (J. Vella), J. Azzopardi, M. Camilleri.

Kercem: L. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, A. Tramboo, M. Cremona, J. Portelli (M. Vella), M. Cutajar, J. Ani, E. Vella, C. Hili (F. Camilleri), M. Stojanovic, J. Cordina.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Sannat Lions 2
Xaghra United 2

Sannat are leading the standings, two points ahead of Nadur but with a game more, after sharing four second-half goals in an exciting two-all draw with Xaghra.

Xaghra were the more aggressive side in the early stages, going close through efforts from Johann Attard, Anthony Eviparker and Chris Camilleri. The Lions also had their chances, especially through Ricardo Saverino and Sabri Rais.

Late in the first half, Rais concluded badly from close distance following a free-kick by Saverino.

The balance prevailed but scoring chances were plentiful in the final 10 minutes. On 81 minutes, Rais came face-to-face with Donald Gauci but the keeper was quick to avert danger.

Sannat were immediately punished for Rais's glaring miss as Xaghra moved ahead a minute later. Eviparker placed the ball behind Sannat goalkeeper Paul Galea following a Zoran Milosevic pass.

But Sannat were back on level terms on 84 minutes, thanks to a header by Noel Borg, and two minutes later, they turned the tide in their favour when Saverino hammered home past Gauci.

The Lions could have sealed the issue but Grima, sprinting into the box to reach a Saverino pass, had his shot saved by Gauci.

At the other end, Xaghra salvaged a draw in stoppage time. They were awarded a penalty after Borg floored Chris Camilleri and Eviparker levelled the scores from the spot.

Sannat: P. Galea, A. Debono, M. Formosa (J. Agius), J. Vella, P. Spiteri (E. Grima), C. de Oliveira, J. Vella, S. Rais, M. Muscat, N. Borg, R. Saverino.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, Z. Milosevic, J. Bartolo, A. Eviparker, J. Attard (J. Vella), J. Camilleri, S. Sultana, J. Sultana (E. Nkwocha), S.F. Bajada, J. Galea, C. Camilleri.

Referee: Mario Apap.