Saints shock Magpies

Rabat Ajax 0
St Andrew's 1

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Billy Mock's St Andrew's staged an upset as they defeated promotion contenders Rabat Ajax with Jeremy Gatt Coleiro scoring the all-important goal midway through the second half. The Magpies' hopes were jolted but the chances for the Saints to stay up now look better.

Although Rabat attacked for long stretches they hardly ever tested the Saints keeper. Jonathan Bezzina and Kayne Said tried their luck for the Ajax but the best chance belonged to St Andrew's who hit the post in the 32nd minute following a powerful Edward Hili drive.

Five minutes before the break Rabat striker Adam Smeir was foiled by keeper Frederick Tabone who also did well after the restart to hold out shots by Keith Micallef and Bezzina.

In a counter-attack on 64 minutes the Saints scored the goal that mattered when Gatt Coleiro's grounder finished behind Azzopardi in the Rabat goal.

Darren Galea and Emanuel Muscat were close to scoring an equaliser but, again, it was St Andrew's who could have closed the match following another quick break only for Gatt Coleiro to hit just wide.

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

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Sank, J. Briscoe White, A. Galea, P. Briscoe White (R. Fenech), J. Gatt Coleiro, K. Camilleri, I. Borg (M. Calleja), E. Hili (N. Micallef).

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.

Birzebbuga SP 1
Zebbug Rangers 0

Zebbug's bad run continued as this time they were beaten by Birzebbuga with Aldrin Muscat scoring the winner. Rangers are now in deep relegation trouble.

After only nine minutes Bir-zebbuga went close to taking the lead with shots from Noel Tabone and James Galea, both saved by Duncan Galea.

Seven minutes from half-time, Birzebbuga were again denied by the Rangers keeper off an attempt by Tabone.

Gordon Mallia's free-kick almost found its way in the Birzebbuga net and at the other end Muscat was quick to pounce on a loose ball before firing home past Galea.

Zebbug staged a late rally in their bid to save the match. They created two clear opportunities but Keith Farrugia and Clayton Borg were never near the desired target.

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

Zebbug: D. Galea, R. Attard, K. Farrugia, J. Mallia, K. Xuereb, N. Francalanza, J. Felice (R. Bonello), R. Bugeja, M. Ciantar, G. Mallia (C. Borg), E. Sciberras.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Balzan Youths 2
Lija Athletic 0

This was a crucial derby victory for Balzan Youths in their chase for a promotion berth at the end of the season.

Lija shared the exchanges during the first period but were outclassed by their rivals after the break.

Lija had a strong start and after five minutes they were unlucky to hit the upright through Daniel Cremona.

Balzan's Malcolm Tirchett shot straight into goalkeeper Luke Bonnici when all alone in front of goal and in the 26th minute Leonid McKay headed just wide from an Aaron Agius corner.

Just before the break Balzan were again close through efforts by McKay and Antoine Sacco.

Balzan looked better in the second half and took the lead in the 58th minute, Aaron Agius firing home following a personal effort.

A minute later Balzan were awarded a penalty for a foul by Bonnici on Sacco. Tirchett made no mistake from the spot.

Aaron Pendry almost pulled one back for Lija. He wasted a golden chance in stoppage time when heading weakly into the keeper's hands from a good position.

Balzan: B. Bonello, D. Mamo, D. Agius, S. Cappitta, S. Cauchi, A. Agius, A. Sacco, M. Tirchett (C. Azzopardi), C. Borg, J. Agius, L. McKay (M. Monreal).

Lija: L. Bonnici, N. Gatt, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, G. Lanzon, D. Scerri, C. Ciantar, D. Cremona (A. Pendry), C. Lanzon (G. Barry), A. Gera (B. Lowell), B. Antignolo.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Gudja United 0
Mellieha 2

Mellieha are now second in the standings after this victory over modest Gudja who had a player red-carded in the opening half.

Mellieha took the lead after just five minutes and never looked back. From a Wayne Borg St John corner, Hubert Vella hit home behind Xerxen in the Gudja goal. A lob by Wayne Buttigieg was cleared off the line by Clayton Micallef and Ibrahim Tarik blasted wide.

Gudja were reduced to ten players on 27 minutes when striker Edmond Thornton was sent off for dissent.

Mellieha opted for possession after the break and sealed the points right on the hour when Tarik hit home from a Wayne Buttigieg cross.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, C. Micallef, M. Galea, J. Farrugia, B. Testaferrata, E. Bugeja, E. Gauci, C. Grech, E. Thornton, C. Scicluna (L. Falzon), J. Micallef.

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

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Gozo FC 1
Sta Venera L. 2

Gozo are destined to Division Three football next season after this latest upset at home against Sta Venera who are now in a safe mid-table position.

The Saints saw more of the ball in the first part of the match and opened the score in the 28th minute through a shot from the distance by Roderick Farrugia who surprised keeper Donald Gauci.

Gozo tried to hit back but just before half-time they finished with a player less when Franco Magrin was sent off for a foul on Mark Grech who was on his way to goal.

The hosts were not demoralised though. Sta Venera keeper Sandro Rapinett was called to make two difficult saves after the break following attempts by substitute Joseph Cefai and Matthew Portelli.

The Gozitans were rewarded for their efforts in the 78th minute when Joseph Portelli levelled the score after receiving a pass from Matthew Portelli.

But the visitors staged a reaction and three minutes from time scored a goal that gave them all three points at stake. A Glenn Micallef free-kick hit the bar, the ball fell on Gauci's back and ended in goal.

Gozo: D. Gauci, B. Meilak, A. Tramboo, F. Magrin, M. Azzopardi, M. Portelli, P. Buttigieg (P. Camilleri), G. Conti (J. Cefai), J. Portelli, J. Vella, F. Camilleri.

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

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Division Three

Pembroke Athleta 0
Zejtun Corinthians 0

This was a balanced match which produced no goals despite the two teams' attacking football.

Pembroke created the earlier opportunities through Jeffrey Fenech and Josef Taliana but gradually Zejtun gained the initiative with Brian Grech and Marco Gerada hitting just wide with low shots.

Two minutes after the restart Zejtun hit the post through a shot by Godwin Mifsud. Pembroke's Jeffrey Fenech was also denied by the woodwork on 70 minutes.

Pembroke: J.P. Debattista, D. Bugeja, N. Aquilina, L. Desira, C. Mahoney, J. Fenech, C. Hili (S. Micallef), J. Taliana, K. Vella, C. Leonardi, M. Zampa (M. Sammut).

Zejtun: M. Mifsud, K. Tonna, N. Gerada, E. Caruana, J.P. Abela, D. Falzon, M. Gerada, G. Mifsud, B. Grech, G. Azzopardi, Busuttil.

Referee: Darren Calleja.

Kalkara 1
Mdina Knights 1

This match was played in difficult weather conditions on Friday night and had to be suspended for five minutes during the second half.

Mdina took a deserved lead six minutes before half-time after Matthew Francalanza hit home following a loose ball in the Kalkara box.

The second period was played in heavy rainstorms but Kalkara drew level on 69 minutes when substitute Neville Zerafa headed home a Dino Pace cross.

Kalkara: E. Attard, D. Pace, C. Mizzi, S. Vella, J. Camilleri (N. Zerafa), A. Bonnici, A. Cassar, K. Schembri, K. Vassallo, K. Tonna, C. Borg.

Mdina: C. Cortis, N. Pullicino, L. Mercieca, M. Paris, M. Camilleri, I. Sammut (T. Nader), J. Vella, A. Vassallo, C. Caruana, A. Buhagiar, M. Francalanza.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Gzira United 0
Qrendi 3

Qrendi beat Gzira to stay in the running for an automatic promotion slot at the end of the season.

Tano Farrugia scored on 26 minutes from a Vella Petroni corner.

Gzira had a Nico Corito header saved by Camilleri but it was Qrendi who doubled their lead in the 45th minute through Winston Fenech who took advantage from an error by the Gzira keeper.

Qrendi's dominance continued after the break and Farrugia made it 3-0 to make sure of the points.

Gzira: O. Ablett, H. Gatt Bonello (A. White), M. Brincat, M. Leonardi, A. Camilleri (A. Camilleri), C. Carabott, N. Corito, W. Mallia, W. Spiteri (R. Borg), G. Fenech, R. Azzopardi.

Qrendi: K. Camilleri, R. Galea, A. Galea, M. Grech, S. Sacco, S. Vella, W. Fenech (J. Mercieca), K. Vella Petroni, K. Grima (K. Agius), T. Farrugia (C. Agius), J. Mansueto.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Mgarr United 7
Ta' Xbiex 0

Promotion-seekers Mgarr had the easiest of wins against bottom team Ta' Xbiex in a match they dominated from start to finish.

It took Mgarr 21 minutes to open the score but after Matthew Gauci's goal it was one-way traffic at the Centenary Stadium.

David Muscat doubled the score and Luke Muscat fired an excellent volley home as the first half closed at 3-0.

Mgarr were denied further goals by Ta' Xbiex keeper Mula but the second half became a mere formality with Mgarr scoring four more goals through Malcolm Bugeja, Daniel Schembri, Mark Abela and Steve Aquilina.

Mgarr: B. Debattista, W. Camilleri (M. Muscat), N. Busuttil, M. Bugeja, D. Schembri, C. Gauci, S. Aquilina, D. Muscat, L. Muscat (M. Abela), A. Chetcuti (J. Ebejer), M. Gauci.

Ta' Xbiex: I. Mula (K. Cassar), L. Vella, K. Rausi (D. Tonna), B. Vella, C. Agius, A. Abela, B. Buhagiar, R. Sacco, S. Cauchi, K. Pace, C. Vassallo.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Xghajra Tornadoes 1
Sirens 1

Sirens looked heading towards an important win over Xghajra on Monday but they were shocked as they suffered the equalising goal in the 95th minute.

Sirens went forward in attack in search of goals.

They did manage to score through Kristian Galea in the 29th minute but the goal was disallowed for offside.

However, Sirens were awarded a penalty in the 37th minute for a foul on Calum Muscat and Etienne Bonnici converted from the spot.

The second half saw few goalmouth actions and Xghajra looked down and out in the 81st minute when Martin Portelli was sent off for a second booking.

However, deep into stoppage time the unthinkable happened when substitute Adrian Agius scored a dramatic equaliser to stop Sirens from going top of the standings.

Xghajra: K. Galea, A. Azzopardi, L. Grech (A. Agius), B. Magro, F. Mizzi, N. Attard, A. Muscat, M. Drago, D. Axisa (J. Abela), J. Cachia, M. Portelli.

Sirens: G. Buttigieg, K. Zammit, G. Magri, C. Muscat, K. Galea, E. Bonnici, P. Barbara (G. Galea), A. Galea, N. Mercieca (J. Mifsud), C. Grech, M. Camilleri (J. Mercieca).

Referee: Alexei Tabone.

Kirkop United 0
Zurrieq 2

Zurrieq notched their ninth win of the season after beating neighbours Kirkop.

Zurrieq shot into the lead after 10 minutes with a Robert Bajada goal.

Kirkop came back through attempts by Chris Farrugia and Mark Farrugia but Zurrieq in-creased their lead on 38 minutes following an excellent Daniel Zammit goal.

Zurrieq went close on various occasions after the break, including a Joe Farrugia free-kick which Kirkop keeper Formosa turned onto the crossbar.

Kirkop: K. Formosa, J. Galea (N. Portelli), C. Brimmer, B. Falzon, J. Bellizzi, M. Farrugia, M. Theuma, S. Busuttil, C. Debattista (C. Salerno), C. Farrugia, D. Scicluna.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, C. Gatt, J. Lia (C. Farrugia), J. Camilleri, K. Sacco, J. Farrugia (J. Bugeja), M. Abdilla, G. Chetcuti, D. Zammit, M. Genuis (C. Shomba), R. Bajada.

Referee: Aaron Fenech.