Leading duo in winning groove

Kercem Ajax 3
Sannat Lions 1

Kercem obtained their fifth consecutive victory to maintain their title challenge while Sannat's faint hopes of wiping the gap with the leading duo suffered another blow.

Play was quite balanced at first but Kercem, with Sabri Rais enjoying a positive debut, were the more dangerous side. They opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Elton Vella fired home from the edge of the box.

Sannat were shocked and three minutes later the Ajax doubled the score. Frankie Camilleri passed to Rais and the latter beat Galea with a firm grounder.

Sannat's reaction only produced a weak shot by Ricardo Saverino that was neutralised by Aktpan. The Lions looked better after the break but they never troubled the opponents' rearguard.

Kercem were relying mostly on fast breaks and in the 53rd minute the Sannat goalkeeper did well to save Alfred Effiong's shot. However, the Ajax made sure of the points on the hour when Effiong made it 3-0 after a fine solo move.

Sannat were reduced to ten players in the 67th minute when the referee showed a red card to Sandro Azzopardi for dissent.

The Lions tried to make a fight out of it and were rewarded for their efforts with a consolation goal by Saverino in stoppage time.

Kercem: I. Aktpan, F. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, B. Portelli, J. Vella (J. Grech), J. Portelli, M. Cutajar, E. Vella, C. Hili (J.P. Mizzi), S. Rais, A. Effiong.

Sannat: P. Galea, S. Azzopardi, C. de Oliveira, P. Said (A. Mutalib), A. Camilleri (S. Portelli), J. Vella, R. Mercieca, M. Touali, N. Borg, R. Saverino, M. Camilleri.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Xaghra United 0
Nadur Youngsters 4

Joint-leaders Nadur returned to winning ways with a convincing performance against Xaghra. Nadur had Joe Camilleri and Matthew Portelli missing but were still strong enough to repel Xaghra who completed their second round commitments on a bad note after conceding their second consecutive defeat.

Nadur had an excellent start, Joseph Portelli putting them in front after 10 minutes. Xaghra tried to bounce back and Silvan Galea was unlucky when his shot hit the bar. But, Nadur doubled the score in the 22nd minute through Alex Ribic who lobbed over keeper Agius after a quick break.

Nadur increased the score in the 28th minute when Portelli concluded in style a cross by Simoncic.

Bad luck continued to hamper Xaghra's efforts to get back into the game when, for the second time, Galea's drive crashed against the post. This was minutes before the end of the first half.

Portelli killed Xaghra's hopes on the hour with a first-timed shot following a perfect cross from Frank Azzopardi.

Xaghra: V. Agius, A. Debono (V. Agius), D. Mbueko, S.F. Bajada, J. Bajada, J. Attard, J. Sultana (J. Galea), D. Attard, R. Galea (F. Debono), K. Ndayi, S. Galea.

Nadur: J. Xuereb (F. Vella), P. Buttigieg, M. Vella, S.A. Cauchi, A. Simoncic, M. Bonello, C. Attard (A. Camilleri), F. Azzopardi, A. Ribic, A. Portelli (J. Buttigieg), J. Portelli.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Division Two

Leaders Qala St Joseph are eight points clear at the top after closest rivals St Lawrence Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw by Victoria Hotspurs.

Victoria opened the score in the 68th minute through Kim Said but St Lawrence levelled through Ogun Abimbola five minutes from time.

In another match, Zebbug Rovers made it a double over Gharb Rangers after a 3-0 win.

Zebbug broke the deadlock in the 45th minute through Josef Debrincat. Gharb were punished for wasting some good opportunities when Zebbug's Manuel Cordina scored twice in the 83rd and 86th minutes.