Nadur close gap on Sannat

Sannat Lions 1
Nadur Youngsters 2

Nadur Youngsters made up for their first-round defeat to Sannat when they beat them 2-1 to move just one point off the leadership.

Nadur claimed all three points following a defiant showing that saw them playing the entire second half with a player less after the dismissal of Josef Buttigieg.

The Lions have only themselves to blame for this upset. Their careless finishing cost them the match and even fumbled a penalty late on.

Nadur started strongly and on 12 minutes Anthony Portelli put them ahead with a powerful drive.

Sabri Rais took just three minutes to draw the teams level but in a frantic first half Nadur regained the lead on 20 minutes when Portelli headed in from an Eric Nkwanko cross.

Four minutes from the break, Nadur's Buttigieg was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The Lions almost took immediate advantage of the extra player but Magrin's header was blocked by defender Frank Paul Azzopardi.

After the break, ten-man Nadur looked more focused in defence to protect their slender lead.

On 72 minutes, Mark Formosa fired over from an inviting position while Mark Muscat had a shot stopped by Jonathan Xuereb.

On 85 minutes, Sannat were awarded a penalty for a foul by Filip Marius on Ricardo Saverino, but the latter's shot was saved by Xuereb.

Sannat: P. Galea, A. Debono, M. Formosa, F. Magrin, P. Spiteri (R. Farrugia), C. de Oliveira, J. Vella, S. Rais, M. Muscat, E. Grima (M. Azzopardi), R. Saverino.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, M. F. Marius, B. Meilak, F.P. Azzo-pardi, I. Djordjevic, J. Mejlaq, E. Nkwankwo, A. Portelli, J.C. Portelli, S. Muscat.

Referee: George Portelli.

Xaghra United 0
Ghajnsielem 1

Ghajnsielem chalked up three useful points after a close victory over Xaghra to go third in the table.

Xaghra played the better football during the first half, with Anthony Evi Parker and Ejofar Nkowocha providing the major threat. On 37 minutes, Chris Camilleri's shot came off the Ghajnsielem woodwork.

After the break Xaghra goalkeeper Donald Gauci did well to keep out efforts from Fernando de Andrade and Larry Buttigieg as the Blacks sought to surge forward.

De Andrade's shot hit the bar but he was more accurate soon after when he fired the winning goal.

On 87 minutes, Ghajnsielem's Joe Attard was shown the red card.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, J. Galea, J. Bartolo, S. Sultana, S.F. Bajada, J.G. Vella (D. Attard), J. Attard, C. Camilleri, A. Evi Parker, J. Camilleri, E. Nkowocha (J. Sultana).

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, L. de Castro, J. Camilleri, J. Attard, F. De Andrade, L. Butti-gieg, F.L. Galea.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Division Two

Leaders Victoria Hotspurs chalked up their sixth successive win after beating Zebbug Rovers 3-2.

Manwel Cordina put Zebbug ahead but goals from Fabiano Bassi, Marvin Buttigieg and Reuben Mercieca saw Hotspurs in command.

Cordina pulled a goal back for Zebbug late on.

SK Victoria Wanderers are second in the standings after a 3-1 win over Gharb.

Ide Adesina scored twice for the Wanderers with the other goal coming from Ajibade Adesina. Abdul Mutalib had given Rangers an early lead.