Leaders stumble after 10 successive victories

Balzan Youths 1
San Gwann 3

Balzan Youths' impressive streak of 10 successive victories was halted last weekend when they were beaten by San Gwann who revived their promotion hopes with a 3-1 win.

The Saints played an excellent second half and emerged worthy winners following goals by Keith Fabri, Malcolm Tirchett and Antoine Zahra.

Balzan were off to a flier and after 12 minutes they were already a goal up through an excellent shot by Simon Mizzi following good work by Gilbert Scerri.

The Saints' reaction produced a Tirchett drive that was parried by the keeper. Renie Forace was first on the loose ball but his attempt was blocked.

San Gwann showed better qualities after the break and deservedly equalised on 56 minutes when Fabri headed in from a Lee Cumbo free-kick.

The Saints persisted in attack and on 59 minutes Tirchett hit home following good work by Brincat.

Balzan tried to save the match but it was San Gwann who managed to score yet another goal 19 minutes from time. Brincat had a scorching run from midfield before releasing Zahra who scored with a rasping grounder.

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

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, K. Fabri, C. Giordemaina, L. Cumbo, A. Gatt, M. Mercieca (R. Zammit), R. Forace, R. Brincat (D. Cuschieri), C. Gatt, A. Zahra (S. Hili), M. Tirchett.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Rabat Ajax 1
Lija Athletic 1

This was a bad weekend for the two leading teams in Division Two as second-placed Rabat Ajax could only manage a one-all draw with mid-table side Lija Athletic.

Lija broke the deadlock after nine minutes thanks to an Andre Scicluna goal.

Three minutes later, however, Rabat were awarded a penalty for a foul by Jean Paul Scerri on Adam Smeir and the latter duly converted from the spot.

Smeir was again close following an Alan Zahra free-kick with Lija coming back with efforts from Lydon Cilia and Alan Ellul.

Five minutes before the break, Rabat were denied by Luke Bonnici off a Jonathan Bezzina shot. The Lija keeper was again at hand to foil Smeir on two other occasions.

After the change of ends, play resulted in midfield. Rabat had a Keith Micallef shot saved by Bonnici. At the other end, Lija were denied by Azzopardi who saved off a point-blank effort by Alan Medati.

Rabat then protested for a penalty for a handling infringement by a Lija player and late in the match both teams were close to scoring the winner, Rabat through Josef Tonna and Jean Paul Scerri for Lija.

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

Lija: L. Bonnici, E. Azzopardi (C. Ciantar), M. Mangion, A. Ellul (D. Mizzi), D. Scerri, L. Cilia, H. Friggieri, J.P. Scerri, A. Medati (A. Cachia), A. Scicluna, B. Antignolo.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Mgarr United 1
Zurrieq 0

Joe Grech's Mgarr won this direct relegation clash against Zurrieq to leapfrog the Reds in the standings.

Zurrieq ended the match with nine players as Daniel Zammit and Frans Cassar were both sent off.

Mgarr created the first danger but a 13th-minute Matthew Muscat drive was stopped by Julian Azzopardi. A Malcolm Bugeja free-kick just missed Azzopardi's goal and in the 20th minute Matthew Borg headed goalwards but the Zurrieq keeper saved.

The start to the second half was evenly balanced. However, in the 74th minute, Mgarr were awarded a penalty when Neil Busuttil was tripped by Zammit, the latter being booked for a second time and sent off. Bugeja scored from the spot.

Seven minutes from time, Cassar compounded his team's woes as he was sent off for a second booking.

Mgarr: B. Debattista, J. Ebejer, W. Camilleri, M. Bugeja, C. Gauci, D. Schembri, M. Muscat, M. Borg, C. Abela (M. Gauci), J. Borg (C. Scerri), N. Busuttil.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, A. Barbara, C. Gatt, E. Camilleri, D. Bellizzi, K. Sacco, M. Abdilla, L. Zammit (D. Zammit), J. Saliba, C. Farrugia (F. Cassar), C. Shomba (Clo. Farrugia).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Sta Venera Lightnings 1
Naxxar Lions 0

Sta Venera Lightnings obtained a double over Naxxar Lions with Stefan Farrugia scoring the winner before missing a penalty.

After just three minutes referee Chris Francalanza sustained an injury and following an eight-minute interruption he was replaced by Philip Agius.

A Mark Deguara shot for Naxxar almost had the better of the Sta Venera rearguard and the Saints had a Mark Grech effort stopped by Lions keeper Kevin Agius.

Just before the break, Sta Venera's Mark Muscat hit the post with a header but they took the lead nine minutes after the restart when Farrugia nodded home from a Gerard Ancilleri corner.

In the 64th minute, Sta Venera were again close through Grech and ten minutes later they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Bernard Farrugia on Alfred Micallef. Farrugia, however, hit over the bar from the spot.

In the closing stages, Naxxar were close to an equaliser through Andy Portelli and Keith Caruana.

Sta Venera: E. Attard, A. Micallef, J. Scicluna, M. Muscat, D. Piccinino, G. Ancilleri, G. Micallef, A. Spiteri (D. Demanuele), J. Galea, S. Farrugia, M. Grech (I. Falzon).

Naxxar: K. Agius, R. Farrugia, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J.P. Zahra, A. Catania (A. Bartolo), A. Fenech, K. Naudi (C. Farrugia), B. Farrugia, M. Deguara, E. Cutajar, T. Fenech (K. Caruana).

Referees: Chris Francalanza/ Philip Agius.