Balzan make it three wins on the trot

Rabat Ajax 0
Balzan Youths 1

A Kurt Coleiro penalty was enough for Balzan Youths to collect their third successive win and move up the standings even though they had to play the entire second half with ten players.

After only six minutes Balzan went close through Coleiro whose shot was cleared off the line by Dylan Falzon. Rabat had chances through Adam Smeir and Emmanuel Muscat and on another occasion, an effort by Smeir was well saved by Mintoff.

In the 41st minute, the Balzan goalkeeper suffered an injury and was unable to continue. Balzan's problems were compounded just before the break when Sergio Cappitta was sent off following an incident with Smeir.

Rabat seized the initiative as stand-in keeper Bonello made a series of fine saves to keep Balzan in the match. Aaron Vassallo wasted a glaring opportunity and the Magpies paid heavily for that error as Balzan scored the winning goal two minutes later.

They were awarded a penalty for a foul on Gilbert Scerri and Coleiro kept his cool to fire the ball home.

Late in the match, Rabat could have levelled matters but Vassallo's header was saved in style by Bonello.

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

Balzan: S. Mintoff (B. Bonello), R. Farrugia, D. Agius, S. Cappitta, G. Scerri, D. Mamo (S. Mizzi), M. Monreal, K. Coleiro (J. Agius), I. Bilocca, R. Mifsud, A. Lagana.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Melita 0
Zurrieq 1

Zurrieq sprang an upset when defeating Melita in a match that was decided by a second-half goal scored by substitute Chris Farrugia.

Zurrieq goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi took centre stage with a string of fine saves.

David Azzopardi had two ideal occasions to put Melita ahead early on but his efforts were saved by Azzopardi. The Amateurs continued to show the better ideas with Zurrieq trying to surprise their opponents with swift counter-attacks.

Melita sustained the pressure for most of the match. Just after the restart, Matthew Borg II and Matthew Borg I could have done better in front of goal.

Then, on 64 minutes, Zurrieq struck the goal that mattered when Farrugia hit low in the bottom corner, giving Sapiano no chance.

Late in the game Melita protested for a penalty as Borg I appeared to have been fouled in the box but their pleas were ignored by referee Thomas Debono.

In added time, Melita were unlucky when a David Azzopardi free-kick hit the crossbar.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, M. Stivala (K. Micallef), G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, M. Martin, M. Hyzler, J. Galea, M. Borg II, D. Azzopardi, M. Borg I.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, E. Camilleri, J. Lia, C. Gatt, J. Camilleri, J. Saliba, M. Abdilla, F. Cassar (C. Farrugia), D. Zammit (D. Bellizzi), M. Genuis, C. Shumba (R. Bajada).

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Sirens 0
Mgarr United 0

This was a balanced encounter with Sirens remaining bottom of the league and still without a win after six matches.

Mgarr were very close in the 17th minute as a cross by Chris Abela was cleared by Sirens defender Clyde Grech who almost committed an own goal as his clearance bounced off the bar.

Three minutes later Mgarr were denied by Buttigieg off a Malcolm Bugeja free-kick with Sirens having a Patrick Barbara goal disallowed for a handling infringement.

On the stroke of half-time, Sirens were denied by keeper Kevin Ellul off a point-blank header by Adrian Galea from a Kenneth Zammit corner.

Two minutes after the restart an Adrian Galea header, for Sirens, hit the upright. Mgarr hit back with efforts from William Camilleri and Alan Chetcuti but Sirens goalkeeper Buttigieg saved. Both teams tried hard to find a way through but to no avail as the stalemate prevailed.

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

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

Referee: William Debattista.

San Gwann 2
Naxxar Lions 0

Joe Brincat's San Gwann obtained their third win of the season after beating neighbours Naxxar Lions in a match they dominated for long stretches.

The Saints took just seven minutes to open the scoring through Alan Spiteri who took advantage of a short backpass by defender Kevin Fenech.

San Gwann stayed in control with Clayton Giordemaina and Malcolm Tirchett both going close to add to the score.

Naxxar's reply produced a shot by Andrew Catania which went inches wide and on the stroke of half-time, Tirchett almost doubled the Saints' lead.

On 54 minutes San Gwann had Clayton Giordemaina sent off for elbowing an opponent but a minute later, Tirchett practically made sure of his side's victory with a second goal.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, A. Gatt, C. Giordemaina, R. Newell, L. Cumbo, A. Borg, R. Brincat (S. Hili), R. Zammit, A. Spiteri, M. Tirchett (S. Cutajar), K. Micallef (M. Mercieca).

Naxxar: B. Attard, J. Grech (S. Mercieca), M. Spiteri Gonzi, B. Farrugia, K. Fenech (R. Farrugia), E. Cutajar, A. Fenech, T. Fenech, A. Catania, G. Ancilleri (C. Farrugia), A. Bartolo.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.