Lagana goal gives Stars the points

Second Division

Vittoriosa Stars 1
St Andrews 0

A Larry Lagana goal saw Boris Iliev's Vittoriosa Stars maintaining their promotion charge after a hard-earned win over St Andrews. The Stars are now sole leaders, two points ahead of San Gwann.

St Andrews were the first team to settle down as Alex Busuttil went close with a powerful shot that just missed the target.

Vittoriosa, however, soon assumed the initiative but found a solid Saints' rearguard in front of them. In the 44th minute, Lagana's cross was headed goalwards by Tony Cachia but defender Brian Galea was on the right spot to clear to safety.

Busuttil and Claude Scerri had good chances to score for St Andrews after the break but 13 minutes from time, it was Lagana who notched his seventh goal of the season after hitting home the winner from a Carlos Scicluna pass.

Busuttil's free-kick then bounced off the woodwork and on another occasion a Josè Borg header was brilliantly saved by Chris Cini in the Stars' goal.

Referee: Khaled Al Arby.

Attard 1
Tarxien Rainbows 1

This time Attard fared much better than they had done in the 7-3 first-round thrashing at the hands of Tarxien. The latter are now third in the standings.

Tarxien started well and in the 14th minute they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ludvic Bartolo. Aaron Guazzo scored from the spot.

Attard gained the initiative after the break but it was Tarxien who went close to scoring again only for Guazzo's firm drive to fall into Spiteri's safe hands.

In the 72nd minute Attard had a free-kick outside the box in their favour and Alistair Dalli swerved the ball home for a deserved equaliser.

Referee: Alex Arena.

Zebbug Rangers 1
Qormi 1

Qormi were the better team during the first half of a tense derby. In the 14th minute Andrea Bonnici put them in front after profiting from an indecision in the Rangers' defence.

Two minutes later Zebbug were close to an equaliser but Gordon Mallia's drive was saved by Cini. The Qormi goalkeeper then effected two other good saves to deny Zebbug from a Carlo Leonardi effort and another Mallia try.

Rangers dictated matters after the restart and after messing up a couple of chances they deservedly drew level on 62 minutes through Leonardi.

Qormi were unlucky not to score again ten minutes from time when Michael Borg Olivier's header was stopped by the upright.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Gzira United 1
Zurrieq 1

Zurrieq had two players sent off in the closing stages but were still strong enough to hold on to a precious point against troubled Gzira.

The Reds took a 12th-minute lead when Jean Pierre Abdilla was floored in the box and from the penalty the same Zurrieq player made no mistake to put his team 1-0 ahead.

Gzira, however, equalised two minutes later thanks to a Cedric Sciberras goal.

During the second period play continued to be balanced with Zurrieq going close early on through Matthew Genuis and then a header by Godfrey Chetcuti was cleared off the goal line.

Marco Sultana was dismissed in the 85th minute for dissent and a minute from time his Zurrieq team-mate, Franklin Borg, followed suit after an off-the-ball incident.

Referee: Frans Formosa.

Third Division

Ta' Xbiex 0
St George's 1

Joint leaders St George's had to fight extremely hard to take the points away from lowly Ta' Xbiex, still without a point after nine matches.

As anticipated, the Saints threw everything in attack from the word go but found Ta' Xbiex goalkeeper Renald Attard in fine form.

However, there was little Attard could do in the 73rd minute when Joe Mizzi headed home from a Christian Grech cross.

Referee: Edward Spiteri.

Zejtun Corinthians 4
Ghaxaq 3

Despite the inclement weather last week, this match produced seven goals and some fine play even though only two officials were present. In the end, Zejtun joined St George's at the top as Sandro Lapira's hat-trick proved futile for Ghaxaq.

After just five minutes Zejtun broke the deadlock through Andy Portelli but Lapira soon equalised for his team with an excellent strike.

Zejtun regained the lead soon after thanks to a Lawrence Duncan goal and three minutes before the interval Kenneth Bonnici made it 3-1 following a good move between Gerada duo - Norbert and Marco.

Nine minutes after the restart Marco Gerada headed in Zejtun's fourth goal but Ghaxaq were not finished. Lapira scored twice in the last few minutes but then time ran out for them as Zejtun breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Pembroke Athleta 1
Gudja United 0

Following their impressive victory over Birzebbuga the week before, more was expected from Gudja. However, they eventually slipped to a sixth upset from nine outings after they succumbed to an Andre Cachia second-half goal

Goalkeeper Grima Baldacchino was injured early on and replaced by Magro but despite Gudja's constant pressure it was Pembroke who found the net when Xerxen stopped a Joe Gauci drive but Cachia was there to tap home the rebound.

Referee: Roberta Ebejer Sant.

Siggiewi 0
Birzebbuga 4

Birzebbuga were back on the right tracks, winning this match handsomely to stay in touch with the frontrunners.

They had a good start and after 15 minutes Neville Farrugia put the southerners ahead after hitting home a loose ball.

Siggiewi were rather weak in their reaction and paid dearly for their poor finishing when Farrugia doubled his side's lead following a Noel Tabone through-pass.

Five minutes from time Clive Formosa made it 3-0 and a minute later Birzebbuga sealed the issue with a fourth goal scored by Noel Tabone.

Referee: Juergen Meli.