Sta Venera lose unbeaten record

Sta Venera Lightnings 0
Mgarr United 1

Joe Grech's Mgarr United confirmed their positive season as they staged an upset, inflicting the first defeat of the championship on leaders Sta Venera Lightnings.

Sta Venera were favourites to win this match but Mgarr sounded their warning after eight minutes when a Luke Muscat effort just missed the Saints' goal.

Sta Venera's Kevin Vella and Dylan Mercieca had good chances to open the score. Mgarr replied through a shot by Neil Busuttil which was blocked by the Saints' rearguard.

Mgarr continued to create havoc in the Lightnings' defence with their swift breaks on the opponents' goal. They scored the all-important goal on 74 minutes when Busuttil's free-kick finished inside the Saints' net.

Sta Venera never looked strong enough to stage a reaction and to make it worse for them they ended the match with ten players. Striker Stephen Said was sent off for passing remarks to the referee.

Referee: Esther Farrugia.

Pembroke Athleta 1
Sta Lucija 2

Sta Lucija maintained their play-offs chances with a tight victory over Pembroke who are now out of the race for promotion.

Sta Lucija played the better football in the initial stages of the first period and early on they went close through Kurt Grima.

But Pembroke soon settled down and Saints' keeper Piscopo had to be alert to save Antvin Monsigneur's calibrated free-kicks. Four minutes before the end of the first half, Pembroke were unlucky when a David Azzopardi grounder scrapped against the woodwork.

Four minutes after the restart, Sta Lucija forged ahead after a Josef Mansueto goal following a good move by Mario Farrugia.

Sta Lucija made it 2-0 in the 85th minute through Andrew Sciortino. But two minutes from time, Pembroke captain Andre Cachia halved the deficit with a fierce volley.

Tension crept inside the teams and deep into stoppage time Adriano Fenech (Pembroke) and Keith Seychell (Sta Lucija) were red-carded by the referee.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Siggiewi 1
Sirens 2

Sirens kept their hopes of a place in the promotion play-offs alive after they beat Siggiewi by the odd goal in three. The all-important goal was scored by former national team player Richard Buhagiar ten minutes from time.

Sirens were the better team during the first-half and took the lead after nine minutes when Adrian Galea hit home from Buhagiar's cross.

Siggiewi gradually shared the exchanges and Josef Micallef put them level on 32 minutes with a fine volley.

From then onwards Sirens created the better chances and Galea was twice denied by Vella.

Eleven minutes from time, Siggiewi were unlucky when Ciappara's shot hit the bar. But a minute later Sirens netted the winner when Buhagiar fired a low shot that had the better of the Siggiewi keeper.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Fgura United 5
Kirkop United 2

Kirkop shared the exchanges during the first period but were completely outclassed by Fgura after the interval.

Clint Ellul headed in from a cross by Joe Mizzi to put Fgura ahead after 26 minutes. Four minutes later Kirkop were back on level terms after Chris Farrugia beat Renald Attard with an inswinging corner.

Fgura dominated the second half and after only eight minutes they regained the lead through Mizzi. Mark Galea made it 3-1 following a swift counter-attack and Howard Hughes beat D'Agostino in the Kirkop goal from close in.

The rout was completed five minutes from time when substitute Ivan Cassar made it 5-1.

Kirkop scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute following an excellent shot by Alan Deidun.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Ta' Xbiex 0
Kalkara 6

As expected, Kalkara chalked up their fourth victory of the season at the expense of lowly Ta' Xbiex.

Anthony Brignone (8, 22) and Nicky Gatt (35) gave Kalkara a 3-0 first-half lead.

The second period was a mere formality with substitute Noel Bugeja making it 4-0 after just two minutes.

Brignone completed his hat-trick and Kalkara's fifth goal on 69 minute. Eight minutes from time a good move started by Dino Pace led to Kalkara making it 6-0 following Bugeja's second goal of the day.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Xghajra Tornadoes 2
Zejtun Corinthians 1

Zejtun are still without a win after 14 matches as they were beaten by Xghajra for whom Charles Cassar scored the winner eight minutes from time.

After only two minutes Alex Azzopardi wasted an easy opportunity for Xghajra. Zejtun gradually took the initiative and took the lead on 17 minutes following a long-range dipper by Elton Caruana which deceived keeper Aaron Pace.

Pace was then on hand to deny Zejtun off a Gerada free-kick. In the 36th minute, the Corinthians wasted an easy chance through Godwin Mifsud.

Xghajra attacked for long stretches during the second part of the game and after going close through Jonathan Cachia and Azzopardi they obtained the equaliser in the 57th minute through Jovil Abela.

Late in the match, Zejtun had a Houston Spiteri shot cleared off the goal line. But it was veteran Cassar who scored the winning goal late on for Xghajra.

Referee: Paul Apap.