Tarxien halt Vittoriosa's unbeaten run

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Vittoriosa Stars 0

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An Aaron Guazzo penalty-goal was enough for Tarxien Rainbows to interrupt Vittoriosa's unbeaten record and stay one point behind leaders San Gwann.

Vittoriosa showed more quality play in the first period and on the half-hour mark Lucienne Scerri's shot seemed destined for the back of the net but Massimo Schembri blocked.

Tarxien came more into the picture after the break and in the 56th minute Simon Shead saw his effort hit the post.

In the 78th minute the Rainbows were awarded a penalty for a Justin Camilleri handsball. Guazzo scored to give Tarxien three priceless points.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Qormi 2
Attard 3

Attard gained three useful points to move in fourth place after completing a double over troubled Qormi.

Qormi were the more enterprising team at the start and were rather unlucky when two efforts from Andrea Bonnici and Michael Borg Olivier were denied by the woodwork.

But it was Attard who took the lead in the 33rd minute through Ramon Mallia.

However, Qormi equalised seven minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Stefan Cauchi on Chris Ciappara. Bonnici made it 1-1 from the spot.

Attard were also awarded a penalty a minute before the interval for a foul on Mallia. Alan Micallef scored to put Attard back in front.

Qormi continued to dictate matters and drew level with a Darren Prendergast free-kick.

However, Elton Catania hit the winner for Attard in the 76th minute after tapping home a cross from substitute Josef Axisa.

Referee: J.R. Attard.

San Gwann 7
Luqa St Andrews 2

This was an easy victory for the leaders against lowly Luqa St Andrews with San Gwann striker Mark Psaila hitting four goals. Luqa seem destined for Third Division football next season as San Gwann maintained their promotion charge.

San Gwann dominated the first period, going in for the break 5-1 up.

Bernard Sciberras (4th), Psaila (20th, 35th) and Alan Spiteri (38th, 40th) scored the goals for San Gwann with Joseph Catania reducing the arrears for Luqa.

Psaila hit two more goals for the leaders in the 74th and 81st minutes to complete his poker. Oliver Cutajar netted Luqa's second to make it a final 7-2 scoreline.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Zurrieq 1
Mellieha 0

Zurrieq owe this victory to a Matthew Genuis goal midway through the second half. Mellieha are now in deep relegation trouble.

The first period was a balanced affair. In the 33rd minute Zurrieq wasted an easy chance through Philip Farrugia while Mellieha cursed their luck on 40 minutes after a fine Adrian Galea shot crashed against the post.

In the 67th minute Zurrieq found a breakthrough after Genuis finished off some fine work by Darren Bellizzi and Jean Pierre Abdilla.

Referee: Nicholas Debattista.

St Andrews 2
Gzira United 2

This was a fair result in a match between two sides currently in the lower half of the standings. St Andrews ended the match with ten players after Andy Eminyan was sent off by referee Ian Miller.

Gzira had a good start but it was St Andrews who almost took the lead on 23 minutes when Ryan Calleja's effort was cleared off the line by Malcolm Sultana.

The Maroons forged ahead on 38 minutes when Liam Vidal nodded home a Debono pass. However, just before the break Eminyan equalised for the Saints from a free-kick.

Gzira regained the lead on the hour when Baldassare Borg hit the target after he was released by Liam Mangion.

In the 77th minute, Dale Spiteri hit a deserved equaliser for St Andrews. Five minutes later the Saints had Eminyan red-carded for dissent.

Referee: Ian Miller.

Dingli Swallows 0
Zebbug Rangers 0

This was a drab match which saw Dingli Swallows obtaining a precious point in their efforts to maintain their Second Division status.

After just six minutes, Zebbug were unlucky when Gordon Mallia's effort hit the bar and on 14 minutes Mallia was again close as his close-range shot just missed the target.

Gradually, Dingli started to share the exchanges. Anthony Brignone and Charles Azzopardi were through but both chances were missed.

During the second period play resulted mostly in midfield. Five minutes from time, Zebbug almost scored but Mallia shot high from an ideal scoring position.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Division Three

St George's 1
Kirkop United 2

This was an important win for Kirkop as they moved to the top of the standings. For the Saints this was their first defeat.

Kirkop had an excellent start and after just seven minutes Alistair Camilleri put them ahead after 'keeper Andrea Gatt had partially stopped a Duncan Micallef lob.

Three minutes later, St George's were awarded a penalty for a foul by Kirkop 'keeper Stephen Mizzi on Keith Darmanin. The latter duly converted from the spot to make it 1-1.

Darmanin was unlucky in the 52nd minute when his shot from a free-kick hit the bar. A minute later St George's had Gatt sent off for retaliation.

Despite this setback the Saints continued to create the better chances and in the 57th minute another calibrated Darmanin free-kick was stopped by the Kirkop woodwork.

It was Kirkop, however, who took all points ten minutes from time when Tyron Bonnici finished off a swift counter-attack.

Referee: Khaled Al Arby.

Gharghur 1
Mgarr United 0

A goal scored by veteran Nigel Zerafa saw 10-man Gharghur beating Mgarr in a match which they dominated for long stretches. Gharghur had to play with a player short for most of the second half after Mark Decesare was sent off.

Gharghur showed the better ideas throughout the first period and Mgarr goalie Muscat twice saved well to deny striker Jeremy Dalli.

However, in the 35th minute Muscat was beaten when Zerafa headed home from a Kris Sargent corner-kick.

Gharghur were still the better team after the break but in the 66th minute they suffered a setback when defender Decesare was sent off for a second booking.

Mgarr failed to profit from the situation with Gharghur going close to add further goals but Zerafa and Sandro Caruana wasted their chances.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Ghaxaq 1
Sta Venera 4

Sta Venera's recovery continued as they turned defeat into victory with three second-half goals.

Referee Roberta Ebejer Sant red-carded two players, one from each side.

The first period was monotonous with Sta Venera having Joseph Chetcuti sent off for dissent after 24 minutes. Ghaxaq profited from their numerical advantage and on 40 minutes Sandro Lapira put them ahead.

However, the Saints drew level on 51 minutes after Ghaxaq substitute Chris Bugeja committed an own goal.

Sta Venera kept up the pressure and took the lead in the 71st minute with a Kevin Vella goal.

In the 76th minute Ghaxaq midfielder Ray Sciberras was also dismissed for an off-the-ball incident.

Brian Grech then made sure of the points with two more goals for Sta Venera.

Referee: Roberta Ebejer Sant.

Fgura United 1
Melita 0

A second-half Mark Schembri goal was enough for Fgura to beat promotion rivals Melita. Fgura are now the only undefeated team in all Malta FA leagues.

The Amateurs took the initiative in the first half and went close through efforts by Adriano Fenech and Andrew Naudi.

But, Fgura dictated the run of play after the restart and it was no surprise when Mark Schembri scored what proved to be the winner in the 74th minute. A minute from time Melita could have equalised but Matthew Borg missed a sitter.

Referee: Joe Camilleri.