Leaders Tarxien go four points clear

Tarxien 3
Mellieha 0

Tarxien maintained their promotion charge after they eased past Mellieha to open a four-point lead at the top of the Division One standings.

Mellieha had started the match brightly but once the Rainbows struck twice in a space of a minute there was no way back for the northerners.

Both sides had some important players missing, Wayne Borg St John and Sandro Costa Brasilino for Mellieha while the Rainbows were without Andrew Decesare and Graham Bencini.

Tarxien took control of proceedings from early on but they rarely troubled the Mellieha goal.

But that all changed on 24 minutes when Angus Buhagiar fired the ball home from a free-kick.

Barely a minute later, Tarxien's Matthew Borg was brought down in the area by Mark Borg and a penalty was awarded. Luke Vella Critien drilled the ball past the diving Simon Gauci - 2-0.

Tarxien continued to press forward and netted their third a minute from the break. Jean Paul Muscat burst through before firing a fierce drive into the bottom corner of the net.

The second half was played on a slower pace but still Tarxien kept up the initiative. In fact they could have added a fourth on 56 minutes when Buhagiar's shot was blocked by Gauci.

With the game all but settled, Tarxien had Vella Critien dismissed on 72 minutes for a second bookable offence.

Mellieha came more into the picture but still they rarely troubled the Rainbows rearguard.

Tarxien: S. Cini, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg, O. Grech (J. Shead), E. Mbong, A. Buhagiar (M. Pisani), R. Schembri, J.P. Muscat, L. Vella Critien, M. Borg (S. Shead).

Mellieha: S. Gauci, F. Vella (H. Vella), W. Borg (P. Vella), G. Calabretta, P. Camilleri, K. Gauci, R. Vella, I. Tarik, M. Borg, L. Cauchi, M. Camilleri.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Player of the match: Angus Buhagiar (Tarxien Rainbows).

Vittoriosa 1
Dingli Swallows 3

Dingli continued to impress when they came from a goal down to beat Vittoriosa Stars at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

The Cottonera outfit may feel hard-done by the final scoreline but they have only themselves to blame for failing to profit from the numerous chances that came their way.

Anthony EviParker should have put Dingli ahead after four minutes but his point-blank shot was blocked by Dingli goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

Vittoriosa threatened again on 16 minutes when Keith Darmanin's chip was turned to a corner by Farrugia.

At the other end, Fabio Cauchi drive was well saved by Cassar.

On 25 minutes it was Uchanna Anywanna who tried his luck with a first-time effort but the ball just missed the target.

Vittoriosa took the lead in the 27th minute when Darmanin burst past two defenders but he lost possession with the ball falling into the path of Larry Lagana who rifled home.

Two minutes before the break, Vittoriosa came close to increasing their lead when in a swift break EviParker moved past Edwin Casha but was blocked by goalkeeper Farrugia.

Dingli responded on the stroke of half-time when Kurt Formosa's drive was parried to a corner by Cassar.

From the resultant flag kick, Johann Spiteri was adjudged to have fouled Anywanna in the area and a penalty was awarded. Chris Ciappara's shot was blocked by Cassar but the Dingli player scored from the rebound.

Vittoriosa almost restored their lead on 52 minutes but EviParker shot wide from routine distance.

Dingli were close on 70 minutes when Jason Cachia nodded the ball into the path of Roderick Spiteri but the latter hit wide from close in.

On 75 minutes, Ciappara struck a gem of a goal when his curler left the Vittoriosa goalkeeper helpless.

Dingli sealed the points on 85 minutes when Jeremy Agius pounced on a short clearance to fire the ball home.

Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, S. Privitelli (C. Sciberras), J. Camilleri, A. EviParker, K. Darmanin (L. Grech), C. Cachia (T. Thomas), L. Lagana, S. Calleja, D. Gauci, R. Adami, J. Spiteri.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, E. Casha, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara (C. Tabone), K. Formosa, V. Fiteni, J. Agius (M. Galea), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (J. Sapiano), U. Anywanna.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Christopher Ciappara (Dingli Swallows).