St George's join Marsa at the top

Naxxar Lions 0
Marsa 4

Marsa yesterday scored their third win on the trot to remain on top of Division One thanks to a hat-trick from striker Gilbert Martin.

Martin was the catalyst of Marsa's win with his vision, pace and clinical finishing. Naxxar Lions recalled Victor Bellia in lieu of Paul Sixsmith to try and stop Martin. But such a tactic surely failed to work out.

Naxxar started the game on the attack and after six minutes a Simon Muscat cross was headed by Chima Dozie with goalkeeper Ivan Casha saving twice.

It was Naxxar who threatened again in the 24th minute with Dozie heading over the crossbar.

Although the Lions had more of the play, Marsa operated more on the counter-attack but found life more difficult as Dennis Fenech's rearguard was well organised. But for once the Lions defence relaxed a bit and Marsa opened the scoring.

Thomas surged down the left flank crossed for Martin, who although pressed by two defenders, turned well to plant the ball into the back of Kevin Agius' net.

In the 49th minute, Marsa came close again when a Steven Meilak corner was headed by Joseph Casha with the ball looping just over.

Marsa continued to dominate the proceedings. In the 57th minute a Slavtchev through ball found Casha whose volley just missed the target.

A minute later the Lions could have equalised when Muscat did everything by himself, entered the area with his low shot missing the target by a whisker.

In the 65th minute it was Fenech's side again which came close when a Muscat corner was headed by Dozie with Casha producing a fine save again for a corner.

Martin secured the points for Marsa in the 69th minute, Thomas, sending a precise pass towards the unmarked Martin who beat Agius with a low drive.

Fifteen minutes from time Marsa made it 3-0. Martin outsprinted the Lions defence, before serving Thomas who tapped the ball home.

Marsa made it four a minute before the end. Martin again surged forward turned past Sixsmith who brought him down illegally. From the penalty Martin easily beat Agius.

Naxxar: K. Agius, J. Borg, K. Grech (J. Zammit), R. Schembri, J. Mifsud (P. Sixsmith), S. Muscat, V. Bellia, T. Fenech, G. Camilleri, C. Dozie, B. Chetcuti (K. Fenech).

Marsa: I. Casha, G. Bencini, D. Vella, T. Thomas, N. Slavtchev, G. Martin, S. Meilak (S. Cutajar), J. Casha (J. Dalli), J.P. Zammit, K.Scerri, R. Micallef (K. Cassar).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Senglea Athletic 0
St George's 2

St George's had one of their best moments in their history when they not only beat rivals Senglea but also joined Marsa at the top of the First Division, believing that this could be their year.

Although Senglea are doing their best to win promotion to commemorate the club's centenary, St George's look to be a more solid side than their neighbours.

As expected this was a tense match which brought at the Victor Tedesco Stadium the biggest crowd so far. Marco Gerada's side were slightly better than their opponents with Anthony Ewurun perhaps being the difference between the sides.

St George's did find it a bit tough when 11 minutes from time Emanuel Sevasta was sent-off following a bad tackle on Anthony Gera, but they caught Senglea on a counter attack to score a second and seal the match.

Both sides were annulling each other early on with St George's threatening in the 22nd minute. Ewurun was too fast for the Senglea rearguard, squared the ball to Keith Darmanin, whose effort finished wide.

It was Dragan Zivkovic's side who started to take the upperhand mid-way through the first half and a Fabio Cauchi header finished just over. St George's responded when a Thomas drive finished wide.

The Saints opened the score in the 42nd minute, Thomas found Ewurun in the area, and the Nigerian's right footer finished in the back of the net.

Senglea tried their best on resumption but were never dangerous.

It was St George's who ventured forward and in the 73rd minute Ewurun found Edgar Degabriele whose shot was well saved by Attard.

On 79 minutes, St George's had Sevasta sent off. Despite playing with ten men the Saints managed to increase their lead six minutes from time. Ewurun dispossessed Farrugia and beat Attard from close range.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Gauci, T. Farrugia, F. Cauchi, M. Marlow (L. Mckay, C. Caruana, K. Abela, L. Attard (A. Gera), E. Azzopardi, E. Bobolayefa, J. Borg (G. Bonello).

St George's: A. Gatt, J. Delia, E. Degabriele, E. Sevasta, C. Brincat, L. Lagana, P. Muscat, K. Darmanin, S. Sciberras (C. Grech), A. Ewurum, T. Thomas (A. Bonello).

Referee: Chris Lautier.