Youngsters extend lead in top flight

Nadur Youngsters 1
Kercem Ajax 0

Nadur Youngsters avenged their upset to Kercem Ajax in the second round by beating the bottom team to open a cushion lead at the top.

A goal by Nadur's Nkwankwo early on was disallowed for offside as the Ajax threatened soon after with an attempt by Franklin Adelson that was saved by keeper Jonathan Xuereb.

Nadur increased the tempo and were dangerous through attempts by Josef Buttigieg, Anthony Portelli and Charles Hili but Kercem held tight and could have forged ahead. A header by Mario Azzopardi was cleared off the line by Peter Buttigieg.

The Ajax made the better start to the second half and a free-kick by Manuel Tabone in the 50th minute was blocked by Xuereb.

However, six minutes later Nadur struck the winner, Anthony Portelli scoring with a close tap-in.

Kercem: C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri, J. Micallef, M. Tabone, G. Conti (M. Vella), H. Grech, F. Adelson, M. Azzopardi, J.P. Mizzi (J. Debrincat), M, Stojanovic, E, Hussain.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, M. Secco, C. Camilleri, D. Odevic, J. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, E. Nkwankwo, A. Portelli (S. Muscat), C. Hili (S. Attard).

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Sannat Lions 3
Xaghra United 0

Sannat had the better of Xaghra for the third time this season and climbed to second in the table.

Play was quite entertaining during the first period as both sides created several scoring opportunites.

For Xaghra, Mark Buhagiar hit the crossbar on 13 minutes. Sannat were dangerous with efforts by Fernando de Andrade and Frank Debono.

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Xaghra's Victor John Saliba was sent off for a second caution.

Sannat capitalised on their numerical advantage in the second half. They opened the scoring on 53 minutes through Mark Muscat.

Xaghra regrouped and went close to levelling matters with attempts by Attard, Tramboo and Sultana.

Sannat regained the initiative in the latter part of the match. Six minutes from time, Errol Grima headed home from a corner by Paul Spiteri.

After Larry Buttigieg shot wide for Xaghra, Sannat sealed the issue late on thanks to a low shot by De Andrade.

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

Xaghra: D. Gauci, P. Attard, A. Tramboo, J. Bartolo (A. Mutalib), L. Blanco de Castro, J. Attard, V.J. Saliba, L. Buttigieg, S. Sultana, M. Buhagiar, N. Sultana.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Qala St Joseph 2
Victoria Hotspurs 2

Qala and Victoria Hotspurs took a point each after drawing 2-2. Qala moved off the bottom thanks to the point won but the Hotspurs fell further behind in the title race.

The Saints went ahead after 16 minutes, Brian Portelli hitting home from close range after a Joe Xerri free-kick.

Two minutes later the score became 1-1 as Victoria's Ricardo Saverino beat the Qala keeper from close in.

Qala were not demoralised though and in the 22nd minute, Victoria keeper Mark Grima made two difficult saves to deny Manuel Cordina.

The Maroons restored their lead three minutes later. Cordina's shot was stopped by Grima but in came Dione Lautier to stab the ball home.

The Hotspurs set the pace after the break and in the 51st minute, a shot by Fabiano Bassi hit the post.

Eleven minutes later, the referee awarded Victoria a penalty after Bassi was felled by Glenn Cefai. Aktpan parried Saverino's shot but Daniel Farrugia found the net from the rebound.

The Hotspurs kept insisting but Aktpan thwarted them with fine saves from efforts by Saverino and Farrugia.

Qala: I. Aktpan, P. Camilleri (J. Rapa), B. Portelli, G. Cefai, A. Fotso, C. Attard (M. Bonello), J. Xerri, M. Mifsud, P. Said, M. Cordina, D. Lautier.

Victoria: M. Grima, D. Farrugia, J.P. Grima (A. Zammit), C. Attard, A. Briffa (J. Mizzi), M. Buttigieg, N. Borg, R. Grech, J. Portelli, R. Saverino, F. Bassi.

Referee: Jurgen Meli.

Division Two

SK Victoria W. 6
Zebbug Rovers 1

SK Victoria Wanderers consolidated top spot with a handsome victory over Zebbug. They raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 33 minutes thanks to goals by Joseph Refalo, Ajibade Adesina, from a penalty, and an own goal by Franco Magrin.

Ige Adesina made it 4-0 in the 48th minute and Zebbug pulled one back in the 56th through Basil Chibueze.

Ige and Ajibade Adesina were on target again in the latter stages to give Victoria a 6-1 win.

Referee: Osy Nkwocha.

Oratory Youths 0
Xewkija Tigers 5

Xewkija kept the pace at the top of Division Two with a 5-0 victory over bottom-placed Oratory Youths.

The protagonist for the Tigers was Christian Bugeja. He netted four times to go top of the scorers' list with 19 goals. Bugeja had a penalty saved by Oratory keeper Kenny Grima when the score was still 2-0. The Tigers' other goal came from Josef Xerri.

Referee: Joe Agius.

Played Yesterday

Division One
Nadur vs Ghajnsielem 3-1

Division Two
St Lawrence vs Gharb 2-0