Sannat consolidate lead in standings

Sannat Lions 2
Qala St Joseph 0

This was Sannat's third consecutive victory. They are now four points ahead of second-placed Nadur after five matches.

The Lions' victory matured with goals from their most influential players, Ricardo Saverino and Sabri Rais.

Sannat took a deserved lead in the 12th minute through a Saverino goal following a throughpass by Rais.

Qala had a strong reaction but efforts from Mark Bonello and Denis Abela were neutralised by the goalkeeper. Sannat defender Andrew Debono then cleared the ball off the line on two separate occasions to stop Rufin Oba and Joe Xerri from scoring for the Saints.

Qala suffered a setback in the 49th minute when they were reduced to ten players after Glenn Cefai was sent off for a foul on Franco Magrin.

Sannat profited from the situation and doubled the score on 56 minutes when Rais hit the ball home from a rebound.

Sannat: P. Galea, A. Debono, P. Spiteri, F. Magrin, K. Abinafi, M. Formosa (M. Zammit), M. Muscat, J. Vella, E. Grima, S. Rais (G.F. Farrugia), R. Saverino.

Qala: J. Mizzi, I. Grech, B. Portelli, M. Bonello, G. Cefai, M. Mifsud, D. Abela (P. Camilleri, C. Portelli), R. Oba, K. Mercieca, A. Ribic, J. Xerri.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Xewkija Tigers 4
Xaghra United 3

Xewkija obtained their first points of the season after surprising Xaghra. This was a deserved victory for the Tigers though. They played a determined match and looked more compact in defence.

Xaghra, who had Chris Camilleri and Sammy Frank Bajada unavailable, looked overconfident at times and that, probably, led to their downfall.

John Camilleri put Xaghra in front after 23 minutes but Xewkija turned the result in their favour with goals from Edmond Tchawou and Joseph Azzopardi.

Just before the break an own goal by Mark Buhagiar saw the Tigers going in for the break leading 3-1.

Anthony Eviparker pulled one back for Xaghra after the break as both sides ventured forward in a second-half performance that delighted those present.

The score became 4-2 13 minutes from time when Andreas Fotso hit home after he was put through by Tchawou. Xaghra scored their third goal deep in stoppage time from an Eviparker penalty.

Xewkija: J. Grima, R. Said (S. Mizzi), A. Said, S. Farrugia, J. Azzopardi, M. Pace, P. Rapa (C. Borg), A. Fotso, J. Cefai, M. Camilleri, E. Tchawou.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, M. Buhagiar, J. Bartolo, S. Sultana, J. Galea, Z. Milosevic, J. Attard, A. Eviparker, J. Camilleri, J. Sultana (D. Attard), B. Njoku.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Ghajnsielem 2
Nadur Youngsters 2

Ghajnsielem and Nadur Youngsters shared the spoils in a draw that saw the two sides falling further adrift of leaders Sannat.

Nadur had injured trio Ivan Djordjevic, Anthony Portelli and Jeffrey Meilaq missing.

Ghajnsielem saw more of the ball at first and Nadur keeper Jonathan Xuereb was called to make a difficult save to stop a header by Fernando de Andrade.

The Blacks opened the score in the 43rd minute through Stefan Azzopardi.

He won a loose ball in the box and fired home following two consecutive saves by the goalkeeper to stop a Leandro de Castro free-kick and a shot by Joe Attard.

Nadur were a transformed side after the break. They equalised on 48 minutes from a penalty converted by Eric Nkwankwo and five minutes later Joseph C. Portelli put the Youngsters in front.

Ghajnsielem regained composure. On 64 minutes de Andrade won a tussle with two defenders before scrambling the ball over the line for the Blacks' equaliser.

De Andrade ruined his day 16 minutes from time when he was sent off for a second caution. Nadur tried to profit from the situation but Ghajnsielem closed all gaps to their goal.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, R. Apap, J. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, L. de Castro, J. Camilleri, S. Azzopardi, J. Attard, F. de Andrade, L .Buttigieg.

Nadur: J. Xuereb. P. Buttigieg, J. Grech, M. Filip, M. Bonello (K. Mifsud), B. Meilak, F.P. Azzopardi, M. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, J.C. Portelli, E. Nkwankwo (S. Muscat).

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Next fixtures

Saturday (Sannat Ground) - GFA Cup (preliminary round) 1 p.m. Gharb vs Qala; 3 p.m. Xaghra vs Ghajnsielem.

Sunday (Sannat Ground) - GFA Cup (preliminary round) 1 p.m. SK Victoria W. vs Oratory Youths; 3 p.m. St Lawrence vs Sannat.