Rovers cruise but Nadur lose 7-2

Kercem Ajax 1
Zebbug Rovers 5

Zebbug Rovers opened a five-point lead at the top of the Easyline GFA Division One league and are now very close to win the championship for the first time with three matches to go.

Against Kercem on Wednesday, the Rovers were in excellent form to maintain their current high placing.

Mahjoub Touali was once again a determining factor in Zebbug's victory. He opened the score early on from a free-kick and added another on the half-hour mark after concluding some fine work from Galea. John Eboh made it 3-0 before half-time with a low drive from outside the box.

Kercem were never in the game as the Rovers increased the score in the 49th minute thanks to a Philip Cardona goal. He received an inviting pass from Eboh. Silvan Galea made it 5-0 seven minutes later driving home from a rebound.

Kercem scored a consolation goal two minutes from time through Dragomir Draganov.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Nadur Youngsters 2
Victoria Hotspurs 7

This was an embarrassing upset for Nadur who seem to have thrown in the towel in their bid to retain the title. The Hotspurs scored five goals in the last 20 minutes. They deserved the points as they showed more commitment in their game as the tussle to avoid the drop becomes increasingly complicated.

Nadur had a better start and opened the score in the very first minute through Anthony Portelli.

The outgoing champions had other chances to score again but in the 36th minute, Victor Egere levelled matters from a penalty.

Victoria turned the score in their favour in the 56th minute with another Egere goal from a Kim Said cross. Nadur went all out for the equaliser and were close when two Joseph Portelli shots were cleared off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.

Victoria profited from the space left open by Nadur and Uwa Ogbodo increased the lead for the Citizens in the 71st minute. The score became 4-1 soon after, this time it was Egere who concluded a fast break by Ogbodo to mark his hat-trick.

The Youngsters reduced the deficit with a 79th-minute Alex Simoncic header, but Ogbodo scored twice in quick succession and Noel Borg made it a resounding 7-2 with a goal in stoppage time.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Xewkija Tigers 1
Ghajnsielem 2

Ghajnsielem registered a crucial victory over bottom-placed Xewkija Tigers and practically made sure of maintaining their status for next season. The victory could have gone either way until Ghajnsielem scored the second goal.

At first, there were few actions on goal but after the break play improved. Ghajnsielem's Brian Meilak opened the score midway through the second half but less than a minute later Saviour Farrugia equalised for the Tigers.

The Blacks scored the decisive goal in the 76th minute through Kalenga Ndayi who pounced on a rebound in the opponents' box.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Division Two league

Oratory Youths tasted sweet revenge over Victoria Wanderers for the defeat conceded in the second round with a convincing 4-1 victory that puts them level on points as Victoria in the table.

Damian Iriele opened the score for Oratory but Alan Cini levelled for the Wanderers.

Iriele gave the Youths the lead before half-time and Oratory made sure of the three points with two more goals in the second half through Chris Grech and Mario Farrugia.