Lija make it two from two as Lions score first win

Sirens 0
Lija Athletic 2

Sirens shared the exchanges during the first half but they were completely outclassed by Lija after the changeover. Lija are now joint leaders with Melita and Birzebbuga with two wins from as many matches.

Sirens created the better opportunities in the initial stages. They went close through Adrian Galea and on another occasion a Kenneth Zammit free-kick was saved by Bonnici.

Lija improved after the break and after just five minutes Mark Cremona gave them the lead following good work by Glen Barry.

Then, Lija were denied by Schembri off an attempt by Cremona with Sirens squandering a good chance to draw level when Patrick Barbara blasted over in front of goal.

On the hour Barry finished off a good move to make it 2-0.

Schembri did well to keep out shots by Mark Cremona and Barry and an effort by Daniel Cremona was cleared by Bonnici.

Sirens almost reduced the arrears late on but a Ryan Theuma shot was saved in style by Bonnici.

Sirens: R. Schembri, P. Barbara (A. Xuereb), E. Bonnici, I. Borg, A. Galea, G. Galea (R. Theuma), K. Galea (N. Mercieca), G. Magri, J. Mallia, C. Muscat, K. Zammit.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Cachia, E. Azzopardi (E. Caruana), M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, D. Cremona, C. Ciantar, M. Cremona (H. Friggieri), G. Barry, B. Antignolo (A. Medati).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Mgarr United 0
Naxxar Lions 1

A Matthew Spiteri Gonzi penalty was enough for Naxxar Lions to chalk up their first win of the season with Mgarr still without a point after two matches.

The first period was a balanced affair. Mgarr had a Steve Aquilina header just wide from a cross by Neil Busuttil and Chris Abela was denied by the Naxxar keeper.

Naxxar came more into the picture and in the 23rd minute a header by Spiteri Gonzi was blocked by Busuttil. The same player was unlucky soon after when he hit the post but five minutes before the break he was on the mark when scoring from a penalty awarded for a foul on Kevin Naudi.

Two minutes after the restart, Naxxar went close when Naudi headed just wide from a Gerald Ancilleri cross.

Mgarr pressed hard for an equal-iser and went very close through Busuttil and Matthew Borg.

In the 83rd minute Mark Abela wasted a clear opportunity and a minute from time a Busuttil free-kick was saved by Bjorn Attard.

Mgarr: K. Ellul, W. Camilleri, N. Busuttil, M. Bugeja, D. Schembri, C. Gauci (A. Chetcuti), J. Said (L. Muscat), C. Abela (M. Abela), S. Aquilina, M. Borg, E. Sciberras.

Naxxar: B. Attard, R. Farrugia, M. Spiteri Gonzi, B. Farrugia, K. Fenech, A. Fenech, G. Ancilleri (J.P. Zahra), K. Naudi, A. Catania, A. Spiteri (S. Farrugia), S. Mercieca.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Rabat Ajax 0
San Gwann 1

A Lee Cumbo goal saw San Gwann through as the Saints prevailed in a difficult match against Rabat Ajax.

San Gwann had a Ryan Newell effort going close from a free-kick and in the 19th minute they broke the deadlock when Cumbo's inswingnig corner completely deceived Rabat keeper Tyron Spiteri.

Rabat staged an immediate reaction with Kayne Said hitting just high over the bar in the 39th minute following a Darren Galea through-pass.

The Magpies maintained their stance after the break with efforts from Kayne Said and Clint Micallef neutralised by Franklin Axisa.

A goal by San Gwann striker Malcolm Tirchett was disallowed for offside with Rabat coming back through Joe Caruana and Chris Schembri whose efforts were well saved by Axisa.

At the end of the match, Rabat defender Caruana was sent off for a second caution.

Rabat: T. Spiteri, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna (A. Borg), J. Caruana, P. Ciantar, C. Micallef, A. Zahra, K. Said, K. Micallef (C. Schembri), D. Galea, D. Falzon (G. Vassallo).

San Gwann: F. Axisa, K. Fabri, R. Newell, C. Giordemaina, A. Gatt, S. Zammit Fava (K. Micallef), A. Borg, L. Cumbo, A. Spiteri (R. Zammit), S. Hili (D. Cuschieri), M. Tirchett.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Balzan Youths 0
Zurrieq 3

Balzan were completely taken by surprise after a brilliant second-half display by Zurrieq.

The Youths looked the better side early on with Antoine Sacco being denied by Azzopardi and Alistair Camilleri heading just wide from an Ives Bilocca corner.

On 15 minutes, the Zurrieq keeper made another fine save off shots by Ives Bilocca and Gilbert Scerri with Zurrieq going very close to taking the lead as Godfrey Chetcuti advanced all alone but his attempt was superbly saved by Sean Mintoff.

Balzan were a goal down two minutes into the second half when Chetcuti headed in from a Clive Shomba cross. Balzan's reaction was sterile and on 74 minutes Zurrieq made it 2-0 in a swift counter-attack as Michael Abdilla scored with a firm grounder.

Four minutes later Zurrieq sealed the issue with yet another goal scored by Daniel Zammit.

Balzan: S. Mintoff, R. Farrugia, D. Agius (S. Mizzi), R. Mifsud, S. Cappitta, L. McKay (M. Sciortino), G. Scerri, A. Camilleri, I. Bilocca, K. Coleiro (D. Mamo), A. Sacco.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, E. Camilleri, J. Lia, J. Camilleri, K. Sacco, J. Saliba (D. Bellizzi), M. Abdilla, C. Shomba, D. Zammit, M. Genuis (D. Bonnici), G. Chetcuti (R. Bajada).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.