Top-of-the-table clash ends in a stalemate

Balzan Youths 0
Melita 0

Leaders Balzan Youths retained their four-point lead over Melita at the top of the standings following this goalless draw.

Third-placed Lija were definitely pleased with this outcome as they moved closer to the two front-runners in what should be an exciting finish to the promotion tussle.

Melita saw more of the ball during the first half with Balzan, however, having the first opportunity as a shot by Bjorn Bondin was saved by Matthew Sapiano.

Melita replied with a Kane Micallef free-kick that forced keeper Joshua Galea to a difficult save, and a George Gribbon effort that finished just wide.

The Amateurs were dictating matters now and on 29 minutes a Micallef centre was headed goalwards by Mark Hyzler but Galea was on the right spot to stop the ball.

Three minutes later Melita playmaker Michael Martin should have done better when he shot weakly from a few metres out and then a Micallef shot from the edge of the penalty area finished just wide of the far post.

Five minutes before the break, Balzan missed a clear scoring opportunity through Clint Micallef following some good work by Ivan Zammit. The game was more balanced after the break with most of the goalmouth action coming from dead ball situations.

Balzan striker Aaron Agius had two attempts which were blocked by the Melita rearguard but 10 minutes from time Agius marred his day with a red card for a nasty foul on Gribbon.

In the dying minutes both teams appeared to have settled for a draw with play practically resulting in the midfield sector.

Balzan: J. Galea, D. Agius, B. Bondin, C. Sciberras, J. Francica, A. Agius, C. Caruana (T. Thomas), Iv. Zammit (L. Stivala), A. Lagana (L. Gregory), J. Agius, C. Micallef.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, D. Gravino, G. Gribbon, M. Borg, M. Martin, A. Caruana Scicluna, I. Bilocca, M. Hyzler (L. Micallef), J. Galea (S. Galea), K. Micallef.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Lija Athletic 2
Marsa 1

A dramatic winner, scored by Beppe Antignolo in stoppage time, earned Lija three precious points which kept them in the race for promotion. Marsa produced yet another fine performance and could have snatched a point from this match.

Lija started on attack and early on were denied by Marsa goalkeeper Paul Medina off an attempt by Carlo Leonardi. Medina then stopped other shots from Leonardi and Daniel Scerri, twice.

Lija retained the upperhand during the second half with the Marsa keeper bringing off other fine saves to deny his opponents from goal.

A header by Andre Scicluna and a shot by Daniel Cremona ended just wide with Marsa replying in the 65th minute when a cross by Joe Rizzo was headed out by Alan Delceppo.

Marsa suffered a setback 20 minutes from time when Steve Callus was sent off for retaliation but the Red-Blues were still good enough to take the lead in the 75th minute through a low shot by Chris Cioffi.

Lija's reaction produced an instant equaliser on 79 minutes, a goal scored by substitute Scicluna who headed in from a Cilia cross.

Lija continued to push forward and two minutes into added-time Antignolo, another substitute, beat Medina with an excellent shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Spiteri (B. Antignolo), M. Mangion, K. Grech (A. Scicluna), D. Scerri, D. Cremona, C. Leonardi, L. Cilia, J.P. Scerri, C. Pace, C. Ciantar.

Marsa: P. Medina, S. Callus, K. Scerri, B. Zammit, J. Rizzo, A. Spiteri, R. Azzopardi, C. Cioffi (J. Martin), O. Zammit, N. Vassallo (J. Dalli), A. Delceppo (K. Camilleri).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Mellieħa 0
Birżebbuġa SP 1

Mellieħa paid dearly for missing a couple of glaring opportunities to find the opponents' net as they were beaten by Birżebbuġa in a match decided by a Noel Tabone strike.

Mellieħa played the better football during the first half and were denied on 15 minutes by Saints' keeper Paul Celeste off a strong shot by David Fenech. Wayne Borg St John hit just wide from the edge of the box and on another occasion an attempt by William Borg was again saved with difficulty by Celeste.

In the closing stages of the first half, Borg St John was unsuccessful with a couple of shots from close in.

The Saints were the better team during the second half and their first effort by Ronnie Celeste just missed the target. The northerners hit back with a David Cauchi header which flashed just wide.

Borg St John should have done better midway through the half and a minute later the Saints made Mellieħa pay after scoring the winning goal through Tabone.

Mellieħa's reaction produced close efforts by Mario Debono, Borg St John and Borg which, however, failed to reach the desired target.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Abela (G. Conti), W. Borg, Pat. Camilleri, L. Attard (P. Vella), D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, K. Said (M. Debono), Ph. Camilleri, L. Cauchi, D. Cauchi.

Birżebbuġa: P. Celeste, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella, R. Baldacchino, M. Ciappara, M. Ellul, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, J.P. Barbara (J. Cassar), R. Celeste (J. Camilleri).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Mġarr United 0
Naxxar Lions 3

This was another spirited display from Dennis Fenech's Naxxar who deserved the three points as the scoreline clearly indicates. On this form, Naxxar should be confident of retaining their status but Mġarr are now in deep trouble.

After going close early on through Adrian Fenech, the Lions were unlucky to see a header by Mark Deguara hitting the upright.

Mġarr had a Josef Micallef free-kick saved by David Vella but on 26 minutes Naxxar took a deserved lead when a Deguara shot was deflected into the net past keeper Luca Grech.

Naxxar continued to push forward but had to wait until the 47th minute to increase their lead following an Andy Bartolo shot from an angle.

Mġarr threw in the towel and on 67 minutes it was 3-0 thanks to a Victor Bellia goal after Chris Farrugia had done all the spadework on the left flank.

Naxxar finished the match with ten players when Bartolo was sent off following an incident with an opponent 12 minutes from time.

Deguara hit the Mġarr woodwork late on.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli, N. Busuttil, C. Bugeja (J. Camilleri), W. Camilleri, C. Gauci, S. Mizzi, A. Muscat (D. Muscat), J. Micallef, M. Bugeja, S. Aquilina (P. Fenech).

Naxxar: D. Vella, J. Mercieca, M. Spiteri Gonzi, K. Fenech, J. Agius (G. Sant), M. Coleiro (J. Borg), A. Fenech, A. Bartolo, M. Deguara (A. Delnegro), V. Bellia, C. Farrugia.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Gozo FC 0
Żebbuġ Rangers 0

Gozo FC and Żebbuġ shared the spoils in a tedious match at the Gozo Stadium. Although the two sides tried hard to claim the points they both seemed very weak in attack.

The hosts produced an early scoring opportunity but the Żebbuġ keeper blocked the effort by Anthony Portelli. The visitors, now embroiled in the drop zone, seized supremacy as the minutes ticked away and went close to scoring on more than one occasion but only from set-pieces.

Gozo looked better after the break but Rangers continued to dictate matters. A Rio Micallef shot hit the Gozitan upright and on 77 minutes substitute Omar Rababah and team-mate Christian Tabone failed to conclude following a fast break.

Gozo fumbled their best opportunity to win the match in the dying moments when a shot by Rodney Buttigieg was deflected to a corner by the Rangers defence.

Gozo FC: S. Sultana, P.P. Buttigieg, J. Buttigieg, J. Cefai, A. Portelli, J. Vella, O. Farrugia, C. Bugeja (E. Portelli), R. Buttigieg, S.F. Bajada (J. Camilleri), J. Attard.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Mallia, R. Attard, G. Saliba, E. Calleja, R. Ellul (J. Mallia), L. Vella, C. Tabone, R. Micallef, D. Gatt (M. Cilia), M. Vella (O. Rababah).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.