Sirens scrape past Luqa to chalk up third win

Sirens 2
Luqa St Andrews 1

Lolly Aquilina's Sirens notched their third consecutive victory but they had to fight hard to win the points against lowly Luqa, the latter playing their best match so far.

Sirens went close after just ten minutes through Alan Spiteri's effort which was saved by Gatt with Luqa responding through shots by Jesmond Azzopardi and Jesmond Micallef which just missed the target.

Sirens then wasted an easy opportunity through Adrian Galea but it was Luqa who took a surprise lead in the 25th minute as Randolph Penza headed in from a Clive Psaila free-kick.

Sirens pressed forward with Luqa's no.1 Colin Gatt bringing off two excellent saves to deny Galea and Zarb Cousin. However, in the dying seconds of the first half Gatt was partly at fault in Sirens' equaliser, scored by Kenneth Zammit.

Six minutes after the restart, Richard Buhagiar was on target for Sirens with Luqa claiming the ball had not passed over the goal line.

Luqa went surging forward in attack but it was Buhagiar who could have sealed the issue for Sirens. He failed to score from an ideal position.

Referee: Feodor Zammit.

Kirkop United 1
Zurrieq 2

Zurrieq collected three precious points to move further up the standings. Their striker Robert Bajada scored the decisive goals for the Reds after missing a first-half penalty.

Alan Deidun put Kirkop ahead with a fierce strike after just seven minutes with goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi well and truly beaten.

Zurrieq could have equalised soon after but Bajada saw his penalty, after Daniel Zammit was pulled down in the box, saved by Stephen Mizzi.

Mizzi made other saves to preserve Kirkop's lead but on 36 minutes he was beaten by Bajada who hit home from a Michael Abdilla cross.

Two minutes after the restart, Bajada again beat Mizzi when he scored from a Genuis free-kick. On 60 minutes, Bajada wasted an easy chance to notch his hat-trick with Kirkop's reaction producing fruitless efforts by Deidun and Ellul. Bajada did score in stoppage time but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Kalkara 1
Zejtun Corinthians 1

Kalkara scored their first point of the season in a match which they dominated during the first half with the Corinthians recovering after the break.

With both sides looking to win their first match, it was Kalkara who took the lead early on thanks to an Alfred Bugeja goal.

They sustained the pressure and could have scored again through Anton Cassar and Noel Bugeja. On 21 minutes Kalkara were unlucky when Roderick Garzia's free-kick bounced off the bar.

Zejtun were nowhere to be seen but assumed the initiative after the break. They drew level in the 54th minute through Andy Portelli.

The Corinthians retained the upperhand and in the 62nd minute they claimed a penalty when Jesmar Abela appeared to have been fouled in the box. Referee George Bitri waved play on.

Caruana went close for Zejtun but in the dying minutes it was goalkeeper Mifsud who came to his side's rescue to stop Bugeja from hitting a winner for Kalkara.

Referee: George Bitri.

Fgura United 2
Ghaxaq 0

Joe Abdilla's Fgura obtained their second consecutive victory with striker Daniel Said hitting home the goals that mattered against a side still rock bottom without a point after four matches.

Sandro Lapira and Francois Galea led Ghaxaq's charge early on. However, Fgura took the initiative as the match wore on and forged ahead on 22 minutes when Said broke the deadlock after a Clint Ellul throughpass.

Eight minutes before the break Fgura doubled their lead when Said headed in from a Mark Galea corner.

Ghaxaq played better after the break even though it was Fgura who created the better opportunities through Ellul and Said again.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.