Dingli back on top as Mellieha draw

Dingli Swallows 3
Balzan Youths 1

Dingli Swallows profited from Mellieha's draw against Birzebbuga to regain top spot in Division Two after a hard-fought win over promotion rivals Balzan.

Dingli took just two minutes to take the lead thanks to Jason Cachia's powerful drive.

Balzan came back strongly and on 20 minutes Dingli keeper Farrugia blocked Leonid MacKay's shot.

Jeremy Agius put Dingli 2-0 up on 36 minutes and Chris Ciappara hit their third soon after in a swift break.

Balzan pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time when Malcolm Tirchett earned and scored a penalty.

After the break, Balzan increased the pressure and came close through Alistair Camilleri and Jerryton Agius while Tirchett missed a sitter on 62 minutes.

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

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

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Mellieha 1
Birzebbuga St Peter's 1

Mellieha needed a second-half goal, scored by promising midfielder David Fenech, to gain a point from the match. They are now second in the table, one point behind Dingli.

Mellieha went on the offensive right from the start and Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ludvic Fardell was kept busy with efforts from Reuben Vella, Ibrahim Tarik and William Borg.

However, it was Birzebbuga who stormed ahead on 36 minutes when Aldrin Muscat's shot was deflected past the Mellieha goalkeeper and into the net.

Mellieha pushed forward in the second half with Fardell denying them following attempts by Borg St John and Hubert Vella.

On 68 minutes Birzebbuga were unlucky to see Muscat's lob bouncing off the bar. More misery was in store for the Saints as a minute later Fenech put Mellieha level after some good work from Tarik.

Mellieha kept up the pressure late on but Birzebbuga held tight to secure a precious point.

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

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

Referee: Glen Tonna.

St Andrew's 0
Lija Athletic 2

Lija Athletic hit two second-half goals to bring an end to Billy Mock's unbeaten run since taking over as coach of St Andrew's.

The Saints played the better football during the first half and had a Junior Sank shot coming off the upright.

At the other end, St Andrew's goalkeeper Tabone did well to keep out efforts from Michael Mangion and Elton Azzopardi.

Anthony Gera put Lija ahead a minute into the second half.

St Andrew's should have drawn level on 53 minutes when John Zammit was fouled in the area by keeper Luke Bonnici and a penalty was awarded. Bonnici made amends when he blocked Jonathan Briscoe White's shot from the spot.

St Andrew's hopes of an equaliser were dashed on 89 minutes when goalkeeper Frederick Tabone was sent off for committing a foul on Gera who was through on goal.

Giles Lanzon sealed Lija's win with a second goal in added time.

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

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

Referee: Paul Apap.

Gudja United 1
Zebbug Rangers 0

Young forward Terence Vella netted a vital winner for Gudja who moved out of the drop zone as Zebbug slipped to their fourth successive defeat.

The first half was a balanced affair with Neil Francalanza heading just wide for Zebbug while at the other end, Attard did well to block Jesmond Micallef's shot.

Zebbug gained the initiative after the restart but they failed to trouble the Gudja defence.

On 75 minutes Gudja scored the winner when Vella made the most of an error by goalkeeper Attard to rifle the ball home.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, E. Gauci, T. Vella, J. Zahra, B. Testaferrata, D. Lia, S. Orlando, C. Grech, R. Micallef (E. Bugeja), J. Micallef, C. Scicluna (M. Camilleri).

Zebbug: P. Attard (D. Galea), K. Xuereb, A. Ciantar, R. Attard, K. Farrugia, G. Mallia, N. Francalanza, R. Bugeja (M. Ciantar), E. Sciberras (R. Bonello), A. Buhagiar, E. Cachia.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Gozo FC 0
Melita 4

Gozo FC's relegation worries deepened last weekend after conceding a heavy defeat at the hands of Melita at the Gozo Stadium. The Gozitans are rock bottom with only six points from 13 matches.

The first half was well-contested with Gozo going close early on when a John Camilleri shot was cleared for a corner by Jacques Scerri with Melita goalkeeper Matthew Sapiano beaten.

At the other end, Gozo goalkeeper Jonathan Xuereb did well to save Mark Hyzler's shot.

After the interval, Melita were more aggressive. They took the lead on 50 minutes when Hyzler's grounder had the better of Xuereb.

The visitors doubled the score on 68 minutes. Hyzler's shot was partially blocked by Xuereb but Kane Micallef blasted home the rebound.

Gozo failed to react and Melita sealed the points with late goals from Hyzler (84) and Micallef (90).

Gozo FC: J. Xuereb, J. Cefai, M. Formosa (A. Portelli), P. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, G. Cefai, J. Buttigieg, M. Mifsud, J. Camilleri (M. Vella), S. Galea, M. Muscat.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, J. Scerri (M. Mamo), D. Gravino, S. Bonnici (C. M. Bonnici), M. Martin, M. Hyzler, J. Galea, G. Gribbon, G. Degabriele (A. Xuereb), K. Micallef.

Referee: Esther Farrugia.

Leading scorers: W. Borg St John (Mellieha) 9 goals; C. Ciappara (Dingli), A. Smeir (Rabat Ajax), M. Borg I (Melita) 8 goals.