Mellieha stay top after 3-1 win

Sta Venera Lightnings 1
Mellieha 3

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The result may suggest otherwise but this was a very difficult match for leaders Mellieha.

On Monday, Sta Venera played a tactically-wise match despite finishing with nine players after two red cards in the second half.

Mellieha took only two minutes to open the score with an Ibrahim Tarik free-kick. Sta Venera hit back immediately but efforts from Mark Grech and Dylan Mercieca were saved by David Vella.

The Saints scored a deserved equaliser from a penalty. David Cauchi handled the ball inside his box and from the spot Clayton Garzia made it one-all.

But, seven minutes into the second-half Sta Venera had striker Mercieca sent off for a second caution. Mellieha pushed forward in numbers and regained the lead following a William Borg header.

Sta Venera's worries were compounded nine minutes from time when Mark Muscat was booked for a second time.

The northerners made sure of the points in added time when Wayne Borg St John caught the Saints' defence napping before sliding home his side's third goal.

Sta Venera: S. Rapinett, L. Stivala, M. Muscat, C. Abela, Y.M. Law, C. Garzia (S. Said), R. Farrugia, A. Hili (D. Bonnici), D. Azzopardi (I. Falzon), D. Mercieca, M. Grech.

Mellieha: D. Vella, W. Borg, W. Buttigieg, K. Gauci, D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, R. Vella (M. Borg), I. Tarik, H. Vella, L. Cauchi (C. Borg), D. Cauchi.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Rabat Ajax 2
Gozo FC 1

Rabat Ajax turned defeat into victory to keep their promotion hopes intact.

The Gozitans had a good match but they could not avoid defeat to stay rock bottom in the standings.

Gozo took the lead on 18 minutes following a powerful Charles Mercieca drive which surprised Azzo-pardi in the Rabat goal.

Rabat switched to attacking mode with Kayne Said missing a sitter and an Emanuel Muscat shot saved by Camilleri.

Three minutes into the second half Josef Tonna beat the Gozitan keeper who had just parried a Chris Schembri free-kick. Rabat insisted in attack and their efforts were rewarded five minutes from time when Jonathan Bezzina hit home the winner.

Gozo's Brian Meilaq and Tonna, of Rabat, were sent off in added time.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, C. Schembri, P. Ciantar, A. Zahra, E. Muscat, K. Said (C. Muscat), K. Micallef, A. Smeir (A. Borg).

Gozo: L. Camilleri, B. Meilaq, F. Camilleri, C. Mercieca, P. Buttigieg, J. Buttigieg, J. Portelli, M. Cutajar, J. Camilleri, M. Muscat, C. Camilleri (E. Cordina).

Referee: Darren Calleja.

Balzan Youths 0
St Andrew's 0

This match heralded the start of the championship's second round. No goals were scored despite the two teams going all out in attack.

Balzan went close early on following a Beppe Pace free-kick. The Youths had other chances to open the score but, perhaps, the best opportunity of the first period belonged to Saints player Jonathan Briscoe White, who, all alone in front of goal, hit wide.

St Andrew's looked the better side at the start of the second half and could have taken the lead had John Zammit not blasted his shot straight into Bonello's arms from a good position.

Sacco, Malcolm Tirchett and Alistair Camilleri were keeping the St Andrew's defence busy.

In the closing stages Sacco was denied by Tabone and at the other end an Anthony Galea free-kick just missed the target.

Balzan: B. Bonello, D. Mamo (S. Cauchi), D. Agius, S. Cappitta, B. Pace, K. Curmi, S. Mizzi (J. Agius), L. McKay (R. Caruana), A. Camilleri, A. Sacco, M. Tirchett.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone (E. Hili), J. Galea, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Sank, S. Falzon, A. Galea, P. Briscoe White, J. Briscoe White, B. Chetcuti (N. Micallef), J. Zammit, R. Fenech (J. Gatt Coleiro).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Lija Athletic 3
Gudja United 0

Lija Athletic opened their second round commitments with a sound win over Gudja to enhance their promotion prospects.

Lija did most of the attacking and ventured forward right from the kick-off. An Alan Ellul grounder rolled past the far post. Beppe Antignolo then crossed for Anthony Gera whose header was saved by Xerxen. On another occasion Michael Mangion headed just wide from an Antignolo corner.

Gudja's response to Lija's attacking play was a Robert Micallef shot that finished inside the side netting.

Lija opened the score three minutes into the second half when Alan Ellul headed in from a Gera cross.

Gudja suffered a setback on 67 minutes when Jeffrey Farrugia was sent off for a double caution.

Lija controlled the game and six minutes from time Glen Barry made it 2-0 with a well-taken goal. Victory was sealed when Antignolo concluded some fine work by Barry.

Lija: L. Bonnici, J. Cauchi, E. Azzopardi (G. Lanzon), M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, G. Barry, C. Ciantar, B. Deguara (B. Lowell), A. Gera (G. Grech), B. Antignolo.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, M. Galea, T. Vella, J. Zahra (D. Lia), J. Farrugia, S. Orlando, E. Gauci, C. Grech, J. Micallef (L. Agius), C. Scicluna (C. Schembri), R. Micallef.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Birzebbuga SP 2
Dingli Swallows 3

Dingli did a double over Birzebbuga in a keen match.

After two minutes Birzebbuga veteran Aldrin Muscat was denied by Jeffrey Farrugia with Dingli taking the lead in the seventh minute as Chris Ciappara headed in from a Jeremy Agius pass.

The seasiders replied through attempts by Vince Camilleri and Muscat but it was Dingli who doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Agius profited from an indecision by Clive Formosa.

Just before the break, Birzebbuga were back in the game when Camilleri scored from a penalty awarded for a foul on James Galea.

The southerners pushed forward after the break. Farrugia made a number of fine saves to keep Dingli ahead. Then, on 67 minutes, Roderick Spiteri found space in the Birzebbuga defence before releasing Ciappara who made it 3-1.

Stephen Borg reduced the arrears nine minutes from time but Birzebbuga's late rally proved in vain.

Birzebbuga: L. Fardell, K. Farrugia, C. Grech, M. Ciappara, L. Burke, C. Formosa, R. Celeste, N. Tabone, A. Muscat (S. Borg), V. Camilleri, J. Cassar (J. Galea).

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli, E. Casha, B. Genovese, F. Cauchi (R. Farrugia), R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, J. Zammit (G. Saliba), J. Agius, J. Cachia (V. Fiteni), E. Farrugia.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Zebbug Rangers 0
Melita 1

Melita recovered from four successive defeats with a merited win over Zebbug Rangers.

Zebbug were first to shoot at goal after ten minutes following an Aaron Buhagiar drive that was neutralised by Sapiano. Eight minutes later Melita striker Matthew Borg I shot just wide and on 30 minutes Jonathan Mifsud headed out from a Gregory Degabriele corner.

Just before the break Gordon Mallia dribbled his way through but was stopped in time by Daniel Gravino's tackle.

Melita scored the goal that mattered in the 55th minute. The move got off by Mark Hyzler and Degabriele. The ball finished at the feet of Julian Galea who hit home.

Zebbug had Joe Mallia sent off for a second booking eight minutes from time.

Zebbug: P. Attard, N. Francalanza (R. Attard), K. Farrugia (R. Bugeja), R. Ellul, K. Xuereb, A. Ciantar, E. Cachia, G. Mallia, A. Buhagiar (M. Ciantar), J. Felice, J. Mallia.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, J. Scerri, D. Gravino, C. Mifsud Bonnici, M. Martin, M. Hyzler, J. Galea, G. Gribbon, G. Degabriele (K. Micallef), M. Borg I.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Leading scorers: W. Borg St John (Mellieha), A. Smeir (Rabat Ajax), M. Borg I (Melita) 8 goals; C. Ciappara (Dingli) 6 goals.