Melita start with 4-1 victory

Melita 4
Sta Venera 1

Stephen D'Amato's Melita produced an excellent performance as they overwhelmed Sta Venera with striker Matthew Borg I scoring two goals in his 100th competitive match.

Borg opened the score after only six minutes when heading home a Julian Galea cross. The Saints tried to hit back with attempts from Melvin Agius and James Galea but on 33 minutes Melita increased their lead thanks to Borg following some good play by Matthew Borg II.

Melita sustained their pressure and just before the break they added a third goal with Borg II heading in from a corner.

Five minutes after the restart Galea made it 4-0 for the Amateurs and the match was as good as over.

Sta Venera scored a consolation goal in the 73rd minute through substitute Alfred Micallef.

Melita: M. Sapiano, M. Stivala, D. Azzopardi, J. Mifsud, M. Mamo, M. Martin, M. Hyzler (S. Galea), J. Galea, M. Borg II (K. Micallef), B. Bondin (M. Ellul), M. Borg I.

Sta Venera: E. Attard, J. Scicluna, M. Agius, M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, D. Demanuele (R. Xuereb), G. Micallef (A. Micallef), A. Hili, J. Felice, J. Galea (S. Said), M. Grech.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Lija Athletic 1
St Andrew's 0

Lija forgot their dismal showing in the KO as they won their opening match against St Andrew's thanks to a solitary Michael Mangion goal.

The Saints had their chances but the day belonged to Lija. They played the better football during the first part of the match and after only three minutes Hubert Friggieri hit just high from close range.

Lija's Bonnici then made successive saves to block Michael Valenzia and Thomas Sullivan shots. Before half-time, Lija's Glen Barry twice tested Tabone with firm grounders.

Three minutes into the second half the Saints were unlucky when a Michael Ellul effort hit the post.

St Andrew's continued to press forward but gradually Lija took control in midfield and on 74 minutes Mangion hit the all-important winner.

Lija: L. Bonnici, E. Azzopardi (J.P. Scerri), M. Mangion, D. Scerri, C. Ciantar (K. Grech), L. Cilia, G. Barry, N. Gatt (S. Ferriggi), H. Friggieri, B. Lowell, B. Antignolo.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, N. Gatt Coleiro, T. Sullivan, J. Galea, M. Valenzia, J. Gatt Coleiro (A. Camilleri Kamsky), M. Ellul (S. Gavin), K. Camilleri, A. Galea (A. Tabone), E. Zammit Tabone.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Birzebbuga SP 2
Mgarr United 0

Birzebbuga beat newly-promoted Mgarr with new signing Jeffrey Zammit scoring the goals that mattered.

Zammit opened the score after only three minutes and Birzebbuga created other good chances to add to their lead, mainly through Johan Zammit.

At the other end, a Chris Abela effort was stopped by Xerxen.

Eight minutes after the restart the southerners sealed the issue with Zammit's second goal from an Edward Azzopardi cross.

Birzebbuga: M. Xerxen, M. Ciappara, D. Baldacchino, E. Saliba, D. Burke (R. Celeste), J. Cassar, J. Zammit, Joh. Zammit (L. Vella), D. Gatt (K. Polidano), E. Azzopardi, L. Burke.

Mgarr: B. Debattista, W. Camilleri, G. Said (M. Abela), D. Schembri, M. Bugeja, C. Gauci (D. Muscat), C. Abela, J. Said, S. Aquilina (M. Muscat), M. Borg, E. Sciberras.

Referee: Paul Apap.

San Gwann 1
Sirens 1

Sirens had a positive debut in Division Two with San Gwann drawing level eight minutes from time when playing with ten men.

Early on, San Gwann went very close when an Alan Spiteri shot was saved by Schembri with the assistance of the bar.

Sergio Hili and Malcolm Marmara just missed the Sirens goal and before the break another Spiteri shot found Schembri in a good position to save.

Three minutes into the second half, San Gwann were reduced to ten players when goalkeeper Justin Spiteri was sent off for a professional foul. The Saints could have still taken the lead in the 69th minute but Schembri was alert to deny Keith Fabri.

Four minutes later Sirens broke the deadlock from a penalty scored by Etienne Bonnici.

Giovanni Galea missed a sitter for Sirens and they paid dearly for that mistake as San Gwann drew level when Hili headed in the equaliser from a free-kick.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, C. Giordemaina, G. Ohaegbu (S. Zammit Fava), K. Fabri, A. Gatt, A. Borg, R. Newell, L. Cumbo, A. Spiteri (R. Zammit), M. Marmara (F. Axisa), S. Hili.

Sirens: R. Schembri, K. Zammit, G. Magri, C. Muscat, E. Bonnici, I. Borg, P. Barbara (M. Sciberras), A. Galea, M. Camilleri, Giov. Galea (A. Xuereb), G. Galea (R. Theuma).

Referee: Darren Calleja.