Mellieha win in Gozo to stay top

Gozo FC 1
Mellieha 2

Mellieha obtained a close victory over bottom-placed Gozo to stay top of the league standings. Mellieha saw more of the ball at the Gozo Stadium but could only managed to clinch victory from the penalty spot as the Gozitans' plight against the drop is becoming more precarious.

Mellieha opened the score in the 12th minute following an excellent Kevin Gauci shot that surprised Jonathan Xuereb.

Gozo equalised against the run of play when the referee awarded them a penalty for a David Cauchi handball in the box. Errol Grima converted from the spot.

Mellieha went all-out to regain the lead. A 'goal' by William Borg was disallowed for offside and a Borg St John shot was parried by Xuereb. From the rebound, Ibrahim Tarik's shot was blocked on the line.

After the break, Joseph C. Portelli was unmarked in the Mellieha box but shot wide.

Mellieha scored the decisive goal in the 62nd minute. The referee ordered a penalty in their favour for a foul on Reuben Vella. Tarik made it 2-1.

In the final stages, the hosts applied some hot pressure but could only manage to collect a series of corners that rarely troubled Mellieha.

Gozo: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, F. Camilleri (J. Buttigieg), J. Cefai, G. Cefai, M. Portelli, B. Meilak, S. Galea (K. Mercieca), N. Borg, E. Grima (M. Muscat), J. Portelli.

Mellieha: D. Vella, W. Borg, W. Buttigieg, K. Gauci (M. Borg), D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, R. Vella, I. Tarik (R. Vella), H. Vella, L. Cauchi, D. Cauchi.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Sta Venera Lightnings 0
Dingli Swallows 5

Dingli walloped Sta Venera last weekend to stay close to leaders Mellieha as striker Chris Ciappara crowned a fine day for his team with a well-taken hat-trick.

Ciappara opened the score after five minutes and doubled his team's tally soon after the restart.

Dingli were again close through Jeffrey Zammit and on 74 minutes they increased their lead when Jason Cachia headed in from a Zammit free-kick. Ciappara notched his hat-trick four minutes from time.

A Roderick Farrugia shot hit the post but the same player had better luck in added time to make it 5-0.

Sta Venera: D. Carabott, L. Stivala, D. Azzopardi, C. Abela, M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef, D. Bonnici (R. Farrugia), S. Said (A. Hili), C. Garzia (I. Falzon), M. Grech.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli, B. Genovese, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri (R. Farrugia), C. Ciappara, J. Zammit, V. Fiteni (E. Casha), J. Agius (J. Sapiano), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia.

Referee: Paul Apap.

St Andrew's 1
Gudja United 0

St Andrew's made it three wins in a row under coach Billy Mock to continue moving moving away from bottom places. Gudja ended the match with nine players as Mark Spacey and Clayton Micallef were sent off.

The Saints dictated the run of play early on with Adrian Galea, Patrick Briscoe White and Brian Chetcuti going close to opening the score. They took the lead on 31 minutes following an opportunistic goal scored by John Zammit.

Gudja assumed the initiative after the change of ends but suffered a setback in the 58th minute when defender Spacey was sent off for dissent. However, seven minutes later they were unlucky when a shot by Elton Bugeja hit the bar.

The Saints held tight and Gudja's hopes were all but dashed in stoppage time when Micallef was dismissed for retaliation.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, J. Galea, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Sank, S. Falzon, A. Galea, P. Briscoe White, N. Micallef (J. Gatt Coleiro), J. Zammit (S. Hyzler), B. Chetcuti (K. Camilleri), Ad. Galea.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, M. Spacey, R. Micallef (J. Zahra), J. Spiteri (M. Galea), J. Farrugia, E. Bugeja, C. Micallef, C. Grech, M. Camilleri (C. Schembri), C. Scicluna, J. Micallef.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Lija Athletic 3
Melita 2

Melita were leading 2-1 against Lija but the latter turned defeat into victory with two very late goals. The Amateurs are now deeply rooted in the drop zone.

Lija took the lead after only ten minutes following an excellent Brian Deguara shot. Six minutes later they were unlucky as a shot by Daniel Cremona hit the base of the upright.

In the 27th minute Cremona was denied by Sapiano with Melita finally making a reaction and drawing level through Matthew Borg I whose shot deceived Bonnici.

Right on the hour, an own-goal by Daniel Scerri put Melita 2-1 up. They had chances to wrap up the points but Michael Martin and Julian Galea missed Melita's chances.

Melita paid dearly for this as four minutes from time Glen Barry made it 2-2 and substitute Alan Ellul then scored a dramatic winner.

Lija: L. Bonnici, J. Cauchi, E. Azzopardi, M. Mangion, J. Felice (A. Gera), D. Scerri, D. Cremona (A. Pendry), G. Barry, B. Deguara (A. Ellul), B. Lowell, B. Antignolo.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, M. Stivala, G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, M. Martin, M. Hyzler (K. Micallef), A. Briffa, A. Xuereb, J. Galea, M. Borg I.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Birzebbuga St Peter's 0
Balzan Youths 2

Two second-half goals, scored by twin strikers Alistair Camilleri and Antoine Sacco, gave Balzan Youths their third successive win.

Birzebbuga were rather ineffective in front of goal. They held possession for most of the opening half but found it difficult to carve a way through.

A Sacco shot just missed the target and then Camilleri's effort was saved with difficulty by Fardell. Before the break the Saints were denied by Bonello off a John Barbara free-kick.

Four minutes into the second half, Noel Tabone blasted wide for the southerners. At the other end, Balzan took the lead when Camilleri headed home from a David Mamo cross.

Balzan relied on their swift breaks to keep their opponents on the edge.

Sacco sealed their win with a second goal in stoppage time.

Birzebbuga: L. Fardell, C. Grech, J.P. Barbara (K. Vella), C. Formosa, L. Burke, M. Ciappara, R. Farrugia, N. Tabone, A. Muscat, V. Camilleri, J. Galea.

Balzan: B. Bonello, D. Mamo, D. Agius, S. Cauchi, C. Borg, K. Curmi, S. Mizzi, L. McKay, A. Camilleri, A. Sacco, M. Tirchett (R. Caruana).

Referee: Ian Miller.