Emphatic wins for Sannat Lions and Nadur Youngsters

Nadur Youngsters 4
Xewkija Tigers 1

Eric Nkwankwo was the star performer for Nadur as the champions came from a goal down to beat bottom-placed Xewkija Tigers and remain one point behind leaders Sannat.

Nadur put pressure on the Xewkija defence right from the start but the Tigers were well deployed at the back. It was Xewkija who opened the score on the half-hour when Joseph Cefai's cross-shot deceived Nadur goalkeeper Jonathan Xuereb.

Nadur hit back strongly and almost equalised before the break with efforts from Nkwankwo and Josef Buttigieg.

The Youngsters' pressure finally paid dividends on 57 minutes when Nkwankwo equalised with a rasping grounder. The goal hit Xewkija hard and Nkwankwo struck again four minutes later to put Nadur 2-1 ahead.

Xewkija pushed more men forward but inevitably they were left exposed at the back.

Nadur profited from this and although they had Brian Meilak sent off for a second booking, Joseph Portelli still managed to make it 3-1 on 84 minutes.

Nkwankwo completed his hat-trick in time added on to seal Nadur's win.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, M. Filip, B. Meilak, M. Portelli, I. Djordjevic, F.P. Azzo-pardi, J. Buttigieg (S. Attard), J.C. Portelli, E. Nkwankwo.

Xewkija: J. Grima, J. Cefai, S. Farrugia, J. Dingli, R. Said (A. Said), D. Cilia, J. Azzopardi (P. Spiteri), A. Fotso, S. Mizzi, R. Buttigieg (J. Buhagiar), E. Tchawou.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Sannat Lions 3
Ghajnsielem 0

Ghajnsielem's title aspirations suffered a blow last weekend when they lost to leaders Sannat Lions.

League top-scorer Sabri Rais took centre stage for Sannat after scoring a brace as Ghajnsielem sorely missed the injured Fernando de Andrade.

The first half was a balanced affair. Mark Formosa just missed the target for Sannat with a long-range drive while at the other end Ghajnsielem's Frank Buttigieg hit just over.

Sannat took the lead a minute from half-time when Rais headed the ball home from a Franco Magrin free-kick.

The Lions doubled their advantage on 75 minutes when Saverino set up Rais who fired the ball home with a low shot.

Ghajnsielem's woes were further compounded on 80 minutes when Charles Mercieca was sent off for a second yellow card.

Five minutes from time, Sannat wrapped up the points with a third goal scored by Mark Muscat.

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

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista (D. Agius), F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, L. de Castro, A. Buttigieg (M. Refalo), L. Buttigieg, R. Apap, S. Azzopardi (T. Belhaj), F.L. Galea.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Division Two

Victoria Hotspurs maintained their 100 per cent record after dismissing Oratory Youths 3-1.

The Hotspurs have an eight-point lead over second-placed SK Victoria Wanderers.

Michael Vella (13), Marvin Buttigieg (26) and substitute Gotthard Conti (55) scored for Victoria.

Oratory pulled a goal back following an Andrew Zammit own goal three minutes from time.

St Lawrence Spurs and Gharb Rangers shared four goals in a match between two teams struggling in the standings.

Ishaky Umoru and Louis Galea put St Lawrence 2-0 ahead. Second-half goals from Abdul Mutalib and Philip Bajada earned Gharb a point.

Goalkeeper Joseph Micallef saved Umoru's 72nd-minute penalty.