Nadur move away from bottom place

Qala St Joseph 1
Mifsud 18
Nadur Youngsters 3
Muscat 12; Brajovic 50 pen; A. Portelli 63

Nadur Youngsters obtained an important victory over Qala St Joseph last weekend in a direct clash from the relegation zone.

Thanks to the three points won, the champions have now moved up two places in the table.

The Youngsters opened the scoring on 12 minutes through a tap-in by Shaun Muscat following a cross by Josef Buttigieg but the Saints levelled matters six minutes later thanks to a Mario Mifsud goal from a free-kick.

Nadur were not demoralised though and took command of play for the rest of the match. Skipper Anthony Portelli was unlucky to see his header crash against the bar as Nadur had to wait until the 50th minute to score again from a penalty, awarded after a Secco handball. Brojan Brajovic made it 2-1 from the spot.

Qala were down and out and Nadur sealed the issue with a third goal, scored by Anthony Portelli.

Qala SJ
V. Agius, G. Cefai (P. Said), M. Secco, D. Abela, E. Nkwankwo, R. Saverino, M. Mifsud, J. Galea, J. Xerri (D. Lautier), P. Camilleri, C. Hili.

Nadur
S. Sultana, M. Portelli, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, A. Simoncic, B. Timotic, J.M. Portelli, S. Muscat, A. Portelli (J. Said), B. Brajovic, J. Buttigieg.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Kerċem Ajax 3
Stojanovic 12 pen, 52; Cvetic 76
Għajnsielem 4
Attard 9, 23; Viana 20, 69

In another match, Għajnsielem and Kerċem Ajax fought out a seven-goal thriller which went the former's way. The Blacks have moved up to third in the standings, six points adrift of leaders Sannat and two behind SK Victoria Wanderers.

Għajnsielem could have forged ahead as early as the fourth minute but a penalty by Alex Viana, awarded for a foul by Manuel Tabone on Joseph Attard, was deflected against the bar by keeper Leonard Camilleri.

Attard, however, made up for Viana's miss as he gave his team the lead on nine minutes following a fast break.

The Ajax were back on level terms three minutes later when the referee awarded them a penalty following an infringement by Għajnsielem's Joseph Buttigieg in his own box. Milos Stojanovic did not miss from the spot.

The Blacks, however, regained the lead on 20 minutes when Viana hit home from close in.

Chances were being created at both ends of the pitch now, Kerċem's Josef Debrincat hitting high from an ideal position and Attard scoring again for Għajnsielem after he concluded a fine move by Kenneth Mercieca.

Viana almost made it 4-1 before half-time but his shot hit the post.

Stojanovic pulled one back for the Ajax after the break but Għajnsielem soon re-established their two-goal lead with another Viana goal.

Kerċem again pulled one back through Milan Cvetic to set up a pulsating finale but Għajnsielem held firm to defend their one-goal lead.

Kerċem Ajax
L. Camilleri, F. Camilleri (L. Attard), D. Stojanovic, M. Tabone, M. Vella (E. Hussain), M. Cvetic, M. Stojanovic, J. Debrincat, J.P. Mizzi (S. Grech), D. Mercieca, A. Grech.

Għajnsielem
J. Grech, F. Buttigieg, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, D. Debattista, K. Mercieca, J. Attard (C. Tabone), L. Buttigieg, A. Viana, S. Goncalves, F.L. Galea.

Referee: Andre Arciola.