Gżira spoil St Andrew's unbeaten record, Lija fail to capitalise

Senglea Athletics 0
Għargħur 3

Għargħur produced their best performance of the season as they outplayed Senglea Athletics who are now back in relegation trouble. It was a deserved victory for Għargħur but maybe came too late to help them retain their Division Two status.

Għargħur dictated matters in the first half. After eight minutes, a shot by Shaun Vella was saved by George Attard. Senglea responded with efforts by Timmy Thomas and Andrew Sciortino that were off target.

On 32 minutes, Daniel Borg headed just wide from a David Galea free-kick and five minutes later Daniel Cremona's shot just missed the target.

Senglea had the last chance of the first half but Thomas's shot finished just wide.

After the change of ends, Għargħur remained the better team, going close early on through Cremona and Vella.

On the hour, Għargħur nosed ahead when Robert Southward beat Attard with a low shot after receiving from Vella.

On 73 minutes, Għargħur were awarded a penalty after Vella was fouled in the area. Borg made no mistake from the spot.

Għargħur wrapped up the points in stoppage time when Vella got his team's third goal.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Borg, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, H. Hughes (R. Tanti), A. Sciortino, D. Cosaitis, B. Zerafa, T. Thomas, J. Buttigieg (G. Brincat), B. Dalli (R. Degiorgio).

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea, D. Borg, R. Debattista, M. Mercieca (A. Azzopardi), C. Farrugia (F. Grech), C. Zammit, R. Southward, C. Vella (R. Cassar), S. Vella, D. Cremona.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Gżira United 1
St Andrew's 0

Gżira United handed leaders St Andrew's their first defeat of the season to revive their promotion hopes.

The first half was balanced with Gżira creating the first noteworthy chance after 15 minutes through a James Tabone free-kick.

Seven minutes later, Gżira squandered an inviting opportunity as Nico Corito shot over from close in.

Gradually, the Saints gained control in midfield and shots by Michael Calleja and Michael Ellul just missed the target.

On 32 minutes, the Saints had their best opportunity with Anatole Debono driving wide following good work from Calleja.

Five minutes before the break, St Andrew's tested Gżira goalkeeper Keith Camilleri off a cross-shot by Patrick Briscoe White with Gżira responding through another dangerous free-kick from Tabone.

Five minutes after the restart, Keith Camilleri did well to block a header by Andrew Camilleri Kamsky.

The stalemate was broken on 56 minutes when Corito nodded the ball into the path of Richard Attard who fired past goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

The Saints hit back strongly but efforts from Ellul and Nicky Vella Petroni were saved by Camilleri.

St Andrew's had the ball in the Gżira net late on but Vella Petroni was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

Gżira: K. Camilleri, A. White, H. Gatt Bonello, J. Tabone, M. Sultana, K. Bonello, M. Cocks, J. Felice, J. Gatt (G. Mizzi), N. Corito (R. Galea), R. Attard (S. Sammut).

St Andrew's: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, J. Briscoe White (G. Fenech), J. Bugeja, A. Camilleri Kamsky, M. Valenzia, A. Amato, M. Ellul (E. Grima), A. Debono, M. Calleja (N. Vella Petroni).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Żebbuġ Rangers 3
Mellieħa 1

Żebbuġ Rangers, led for the first time by new coach Robert Magro, grabbed a vital win over Mellieħa with striker Mark Deguara notching a hat-trick.

Żebbuġ were the better side during the first period but it was Mellieħa who created the first opportunities through Wayne Borg St John and Reuben Vella.

On 22 minutes, Żebbug wasted a clear scoring opportunity through Gilbert Scerri.

Seven minutes later, Mellieħa's veteran striker Ibrahim Tarek shot wide from close range.

A minute later, Żebbuġ forged ahead, Deguara lobbing the ball over the onrushing Simon Gauci.

A minute from the interval, Żebbuġ keeper Brandon Bartolo denied Mellieħa an equaliser when he blocked Matthew Vella's header.

After the break Mellieħa raised their attacking efforts and went close early on through Luke Cauchi and William Borg.

But their hopes suffered a blow on 58 minutes when Matthew Vella was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Despite this setback, Mellieħa still managed to draw level on 62 minutes when Vella profited from a mistake by Bartolo to make it 1-1.

Mellieħa then missed a glaring opportunity through Borg St John but in the 77th minute Żebbuġ regained their lead thanks to a low shot by Deguara.

Three minutes from time, Żebbuġ sealed their win when Deguara completed his hat-trick with a well-hit free-kick.

Żebbuġ: B. Bartolo, S. Privitelli, S. Calleja, E. Calleja, St. Calleja (E. Cachia), J. Cilia, A. Lagana, J. Fenech (K. Farrugia), M. Deguara (C. Borg), G. Scerri, O. Rababah.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, L. Cauchi, A. Portelli, Matthew Vella, Mark Vella (M. Borg), K. Gauci, R. Vella, W. Borg, I. Tarek (J. Vella), P. Camilleri, W. Borg St John.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Birżebbuġa St Peter's 1
Lija Athletic 0

Lija Athletic failed to take advantage from St Andrew's upset to Gżira as they fell to an unexpected defeat to Birżebbuġa St Peter's which leaves them one point behind the leaders.

Birżebbuġa produced the more constructive football during the first half. After 10 minutes, they fluffed a clear opportunity through Ronnie Celeste following a good move by Carlos Camenzuli. Lija responded through Keith Darmanin whose free-kick was saved by Gabriel Mansueto.

On 20 minutes, Birżebbuġa took the lead with a close-range shot from Noel Tabone.

The Saints maintained their momentum and threatened to increase their advantage through Celeste and Felix Peplow. Lija gradually came more into the picture with Antoine Sacco's shot deflected for a corner.

Darmanin missed another chance for Lija with the Saints replying with an effort from Andy Mangion that was cleared off the line by a Lija defender.

Five minutes into the second half, Lija went close when Sacco's header was kept out by Mansueto while efforts by Daniel Scerri and Beppe Antignolo ended just wide.

Birżebbuġa goalkeeper Mansueto distinguished himself on 73 minutes when he stopped a dangerous effort from Sacco.

In the closing stages, Lija had a Darmanin shot that just missed the target while Sacco's cross-shot came off the post.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, D. Baldacchino, A. Mangion, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, F. Peplow, K. Muscat (C. Grima), R. Celeste (A. Dominicus), C. Camenzuli (M. Zammit), A. Cutajar.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, D. Scerri, A. Sacco, L. Cilia (M. Borg), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, M. Mangion (M. Schembri), C. Ciantar, B. Antignolo, H. Schembri.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.