Youngsters, Hotspurs set the pace

Xaghra United 1
Kercem Ajax 1

Xaghra and Kercem were determined to win this match after finishing on the losing end in their previous outings. Both sides did their part to produce a lively encounter and the 1-1 draw was a fair outcome.

The Ajax dictated play for most of the first half and opened the score in the 27th minute thanks to Darko Stojanovic's headed goal.

Xaghra hit back strongly and were a whisker away from an equaliser just before half-time when a Leandro Blanco de Castro free-kick stamped against the post.

Xaghra kept up the pressure after the break and the Kercem keeper was called to make saves to stop John Camilleri, Blanco de Castro and Joseph Sultana from scoring.

Mark Buhagiar's drive beat Camilleri but came off the woodwork. However, the Blues scored a deserved equaliser on the stroke of time when John Camilleri's grounder finished inside the Ajax's net.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, J. Bartolo, S.F. Bajada, L. Blanco De Castro, M. Buhagiar, C. Buttigieg, J. Agius (J. Attard), A. Ribic, J. Sultana, V.J. Saliba (J. Camilleri), M. Scerri (J. Galea).

Kercem: L. Camilleri, F. Camilleri, M. Tabone, D. Stojanovic, M. Vella, M. Stojanovic (J. Mercieca), J. Debrincat, J.P. Mizzi, A. Grech (I. Attard), S. Grech, J. Grech (H. Grech).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Victoria Hotspurs 2
Ghajnsielem 0

Striker Ricardo Saverino notched a brace to give Victoria Hotspurs their second consecutive victory.

Ghajnsielem fielded new signings Jerry Ogbuleke and Nikolai Slavtchev as the other newcomer Martin Cremona was named among the subs. Despite the arrival of new players, the Blacks failed to raise their performance.

The Hotspurs opened the score from their first attack on Ghajnsielem's goal after nine minutes. Jason Portelli's through-pass released Saverino who placed in goal from an angled position.

Ghajnsielem were nowhere to be seen as the Hotspurs continued to be dangerous with fast breaks from Brazilian strikers Fabiano Bassi and Saverino. Five minutes from half-time, Saverino, put through by Bassi, hit his side's second goal.

After the break, the Blacks continued to find it extremely hard to find a way through Victoria's defence. They had a golden opportunity to pull one back in the 67th minute but Slavtchev's penalty flashed wide of goal.

Victoria: M. Grima, D. Farrugia, J.P. Grima, C. Attard, M. Vella, R. Grech, N. Borg, R. Mercieca (A. Briffa), J. Portelli, R. Saverino (S. Xuereb), F. Bassi.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Agius (M. Cremona), R. Apap (J. Camilleri), C. Mercieca, J. Butti-gieg, B. Meilak, J. Attard, J. Ogbu-leke, L. Buttigieg (S. Vassallo), N. Slavtchev, F.L. Galea.

Referee: Pierre Bonnici.

Sannat Lions 0
Nadur Youngsters 1

This was a slender victory for Nadur who squandered a number of scoring opportunities to make sure well before the final whistle.

Nadur broke the deadlock after six minutes through Eric Nkwan-kwo. The Nigerian hit the target after collected a loose ball in the area following a corner.

However, the Youngsters were not sharp enough in front of goal and missed easy chances to increase their lead. In the 31st minute, Sannat keeper Demis Bajada kept his side in contention with saves on attempts by Nkwankwo and Josef Buttigieg.

In the second half, the Youngsters continued to play the better football. Bajada deflected a Chris Camilleri free-kick against a post and defender Mark Formosa cleared the ball off the line.

The Lions only ventured forward in the last part of the match and almost salvaged what would have been their first point of the championship but efforts from Fernando de Andrade went off target.

Sannat: D. Bajada, P. Spiteri, M. Formosa (E. Grima), C. De Oliveira, A. Debono, J. Vella, M. Cutajar, M. Muscat, K. Mercieca (J. Agius), S. Rais, F. De Andrade.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, M. Filip, D. Odovic, C. Camilleri, S. Muscat (K. Mifsud), J. Buttigieg, E. Nkwankwo, A. Portelli (M. Portelli), J. Portelli.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Division Two

Gharb Rangers 4
Zebbug Rovers 1

Gharb registered an easy victory over Zebbug to stay top with maximum points from two matches.

Rangers dominated the early stages and opened a three-goal lead, with goals from Hamed Sulaiman (2) and Stephen Apap, by the 26th minute.

After an Alex Tramboo shot hit the Gharb post, Zebbug pulled one back with a Manwel Cordina goal.

However, Gharb's Abdul Mutalib sealed the issue with a fourth goal 20 minutes from time.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

St Lawrence Spurs 2
SK Victoria W. 0

St Lawrence obtained their first victory of the campaign, beating SK Victoria Wanderers 2-0.

They went ahead in the 41st minute through Oliver Farrugia and doubled the score in the 56th minute with a Paul Anthony Attard goal.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Xewkija Tigers 3
Munxar Falcons 2

This was a match where the final result was uncertain until the end.

Patrick Falzon and Robert Said put Munxar ahead after Edmond Tchawou had given Xewkija a 1-0 first-half lead.

But Tchawou scored twice after the break to notch up a hat-trick and hand the points to the Tigers.

Referee: Anton Zammit

Oratory Youths 2
St Lawrence Spurs 2

Oratory and St Lawrence shared the spoils in a thrilling match that saw Oratory snatch a late equaliser deep into stoppage time.

The Spurs opened the score through Adalberto Goncalves but Orlando Atzori levelled matters on the half-hour mark.

Jesmond Xerri put the Spurs back in front 18 minutes from time but Oratory battled hard for an equaliser which came from Ishaku Umoru in the 92nd minute.

Referee: Joseph Camilleri.