St Andrew's stumble again

St Andrew's 0
Birżebbuġa St Peter's 3

Promotion chasers St Andrew's were no match for a battling Birżebbuġa team who handed the leaders their second consecutive league defeat.

Early on St Andrew's went close through Jon Paul Calleja and Anatole Debono but gradually the seasiders seized the initiative with Noel Tabone missing a clear opportunity.

Birżebbuġa were denied by Reuben Gauci off a shot by Ronnie Celeste and a Carlos Camenzuli goal was disallowed for offside.

Birżebbuġa took the lead on 33 minutes when Tabone squared the ball to Camenzuli who shot past Gauci.

In a counter-attack, Birżebbuġa were denied by Gauci who stopped a point-blank shot by Celeste with the Saints replying through Vella Petroni whose attempt was saved with difficulty by Mansueto.

Birżebbuġa stayed on top after the break with their opponents practically non-existent. On 56 minutes, Celeste made it 2-0 with a firm grounder.

A few minutes later, the Saints wasted a clear opportunity through Debono and at the other end, Celeste did the same for Birżebbuġa.

The contest was over by the 74th minute when Camenzuli placed the ball beyond Gauci's reach and into the corner of the net to make it 3-0.

St Andrew's: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti, J. Bugeja (P. Briscoe White), J. Briscoe White (L. Cesario), A. Camilleri Kamsky, M. Valenzia, A. Amato, W. Camilleri (K. Galea), A. Debono, J.P. Calleja, N. Vella Petroni.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, A. Buttigieg (A. Cutajar), C. Cachia, N. Tabone (R. Peplow), D. Baldacchino, F. Peplow (R. Adami), C. Camenzuli, A. Mangion, R. Celeste.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Gozo FC 3
Żurrieq 0

Three second-half goals earned wooden-spoonists Gozo a victory over 10-man Żurrieq who are in the danger zone.

Play was rather balanced during the first half. Gozo had efforts from John Camilleri and Michael Bezzina stopped by Reds keeper Julian Azzopardi. Żurrieq could have scored through Daniel Zammit and Jason Saliba.

The hosts enjoyed an excellent start to the second period and opened the scoring through Camilleri. Żurrieq protested for offside and Azzopardi was sent off for dissent.

Although Żurrieq had a player less, they still produced a bold reaction and on two occasions attempts by Saliba and Josef Briffa were cleared from over the line with the keeper beaten.

Żurrieq's hopes, however, were dealt a blow on 71 minutes when Gozo doubled the score from a penalty, scored by Eman Bugeja.

The visitors' only opportunity to re-open the issue came on 75 minutes through an effort by Saliba that was neutralised by keeper Mercieca as Gozo sealed the issue four minutes from time through Mark Muscat.

Gozo FC: C. Mercieca, M. Muscat, M. Azzopardi, A. Debono, F. Debono, P. Spiteri, M. Bezzina, D. Mercieca, E. Bugeja, E. Grima, J. Camilleri.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri, D. Bellizzi, D. Mula (M. Damato), C. Gatt, M. Abdilla (C. Shomba), J. Saliba, V. Zerafa (S. Azzopardi), Jh. Briffa, Js. Briffa, D. Zammit.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Għargħur 1
Sta Venera 1

Although strugglers Għargħur were the better team for most of the match, the result was fair as the Lightnings came back strongly after the interval to save the match.

Għargħur made the better start. After being denied by Franklin Azzopardi off a shot by David Mamo, Għargħur took the lead on 27 minutes through a low shot by Daniel Cremona after an effort by Shaun Vella had bounced off the bar.

Għargħur would have increased their lead had it not been for Azzopardi who came to the Saints' rescue on more than one occasion before the break.

But, Sta Venera looked better in the second half. They went close to an equaliser on various occasions before Mark Grech made it 1-1 on 69 minutes following a through-pass by Stefan Farrugia.

Cremona blasted wide as Għargħur were down to ten men on 74 minutes when Chris Vella was sent off for a second booking.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, R. Debattista, M. Mercieca, R. Southward, D. Galea (A. Azzopardi), J. Galea, C. Zammit, D. Mamo, C. Vella, S. Vella, D. Cremona.

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, A. Cachia (K. Cilia), D. Calleja (N. Veselji), M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, G. Magri, A. Hili, A. Ellul, G. Falzon (A. Camilleri), D. Vella, M. Grech.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Rabat Ajax 1
Gżira United 1

This was a keenly-contested match with both goals coming very late in stoppage time.

Rabat were first to have a shot at goal but Justin Felice's effort was deflected away for a corner and three minutes later Chris Schembri found the Maroons' net but his 'goal' was annulled for offside.

Gżira hit back with efforts from Richard Attard and Nico Corito and on another occasion a Corito shot was saved by Azzopardi.

Rabat missed a clear opportunity through Joseph Caruana and a minute later the Rabat keeper denied Corito with an excellent save.

Rabat played the better football after the change of ends but could not find a way through as Joseph Caruana saw his shot stopped by Camilleri and an Adam Smeir drive was deflected to a corner.

Four minutes into stoppage time, the Maroons went ahead from a penalty, awarded for a foul on Keith Bonello, and converted by the same player.

Rabat did not give up though and salvaged a point with the very last kick of the match when Felice finished off a Smeir delivery inside the opponents' box.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, C. Schembri (E. Muscat), J. Caruana, S. Gauci, J. Felice, A. Zahra (C. Tonna), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, M. Micallef, K. Cassar, D. Azzopardi.

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

Referee: Mario Apap.

Mellieħa 3
Senglea Athletic 0

This was a deserved win for Mellieħa as they dominated from start to finish with Wayne Borg St John scoring a hat-trick to go top of the leading scorers' list with 14 goals.

Borg St John put the northerners in front after just four minutes when he exchanged passes with Matthew Borg before hitting home past the Senglea keeper.

Senglea, lurking in the drop zone, looked to get back in the reckoning and Timmy Thomas tested the opponents' keeper but with no luck as Mellieħa were twice denied by the post following shots by Kevin Gauci and Borg St John.

However, on 20 minutes Borg St John did not miss following a good move initiated by Joseph Vella to make it 2-0.

Mellieħa held control even though Senglea almost pulled one back following efforts from Thomas and Bjorn Dalli.

However, their hopes were dashed eight minutes from time when Borg St John notched his hat-trick after perfect service from Rio Micallef.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, W. Borg, A. Portelli, L. Cauchi, H. Vella, K. Gauci, R. Vella (A. Attard), M. Borg, P. Camilleri (I. Tarek), W. Borg St John, J. Vella (R. Micallef).

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, A. Sciortino, R. Tanti (N. Abela), B. Zerafa, B. Dalli, T. Thomas (J.P. Abdilla), G. Brincat (C. Borg), J. Buttigieg.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.