Youngsters maintain six-point lead

Nadur Youngsters 3
Ghajnsielem 1

Nadur maintained their six-point lead at the top of the standings following this convincing victory over Ghajnsielem, their third over the same opponents in the league this season.

Ghajnsielem only provided a good challenge in the early stages. The Youngsters then took command of play and opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a Chris Camilleri piledriver from outside the box.

Nadur insisted in attack and doubled their lead in the 49th minute through Eric Nkwankwo.

Nadur suffered a setback on 66 minutes when central defender Marcos Secco was sent off for a second caution. But, Ghajnsielem failed to profit from the situation and in the 72nd minute the champions increased their lead with another goal by Camilleri following a fine solo move.

The Blacks scored their consolation goal in the 79th minute from a penalty, awarded for a foul on John Camilleri and converted by Dominic Okanu.

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

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Agius, M. Cremona, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, V. Tavares (F. Apap), J. Camilleri, D. Okanu, S. Azzopardi, F.L. Galea, C. Tabone (K. Hili).

Referee: George Portelli.

Victoria Hotspurs 5
Xaghra United 2

Victoria Hotspurs recovered from the setback to Qala by outclassing Xaghra United to maintain their title hopes with four matches left.

Xaghra had a Larry Buttigieg shot hitting the woodwork early on. However, the Hotspurs opened the score in the seventh minute following an Anthony Briffa goal.

Xaghra were a demoralised lot and the Citizens made it 3-0 before half-time with goals from Noel Borg and Fabiano Bassi.

Xaghra tried to re-open the issue after the break and pulled a goal back through Alex Tramboo in the 62nd minute.

But, the Hotspurs re-established a three-goal difference three minutes later from a penalty, scored by Ricardo Saverino.

Silvan Galea scored Xaghra's second goal in the 76th minute but Saverino made the final score 5-2 with a goal nine minutes from time.

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

Xaghra: D. Gauci, J. Buhagiar (J. Mercieca), A. Tramboo, L. Blanco de Castro, J. Attard, S. Galea, L. Buttigieg, S.F. Bajada (N. Sultana), S. Sultana (A. Mutalib), M. Buhagiar, P. Ohaka.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Sannat Lions 2
KerCem Ajax 3

Kercem continued to battle hard against the drop by notching three useful points from their match against the more-quoted Sannat to move away from bottom spot.

Kercem opened the score in the ninth minute through an own goal by Justin Agius following a shot by Jean Paul Mizzi.

The Lions had an immediate reaction but Kercem made it 2-0 in the 25th minute with a fine header by Milos Stojanovic.

Sannat lost their composure but managed to narrow the deficit four minutes from half-time with a Fernando de Andrade goal.

Kercem continued to look the better side after the break and reclaimed a two-goal lead on 76 minutes following a goal by Franklin Adelson.

Sannat tried to save the match but only managed to reduce the gap a minute from time with another goal from De Andrade.

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

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

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Ghajnsielem 0
Qala St Joseph 2

Qala showed the better qualities in this match to beat Ghajnsielem and boost their survival hopes as they leapfrogged Kercem in the standings.

David Carabott almost scored for the Blacks after five minutes from a free-kick. For Qala, Dione Lautier shot just wide on 35 minutes.

The Saints stormed ahead soon after the restart. They were awarded a penalty for a foul by Martin Cremona on Lautier. Mario Mifsud converted.

Ghajnsielem were shocked and 13 minutes from time Lautier headed home Qala's second goal.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, S. Azzopardi (C. Tabone), M. Cremona, J. Buttigieg, J. Camilleri, B. Meilak, F.L. Galea, J. Camilleri, D. Okanu, D. Carabott.

Qala: I. Aktpan, P. Camilleri, B. Portelli, A. Fotso, P. Said, M. Bonello, M. Mifsud, D. Abela, D. Lautier, M. Cordina (C. Portelli), C. Attard.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Division Two

St Lawrence Spurs 2
Gharb Rangers 0

St Lawrence kept their promotion hopes alive following this victory over lowly Gharb Rangers. The Spurs had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock when substitute Renzo Formosa hit home from a corner.

Gharb had their chances to get an equaliser but it was the Saints who sealed the points with an Adalberto Goncalves goal 20 minutes from time.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Xewkija Tigers 6
Munxar Falcons 0

This was one-way traffic as the scoreline clearly indicates.

Early goals by Christian Bugeja and Joseph Cefai paved the way for Xewkija. Bugeja scored again from a penalty in the second half and Paul Rapa made it 4-0 on 64 minutes.

Substitute Manwel Xerri and Mark Camilleri rounded up the scoring for Xewkija.

Referee: George Portelli.