Crucial victory for San Gwann

San Gwann 2
Melita 0

This direct clash between two teams at the top places of the Division Two standings was won by San Gwann following goals, scored by Antoine Zahra and Roberto Brincat, in the final ten minutes when they were playing with a man less.

San Gwann pressed forward early on but the first opportunities were created by Melita. They went close through Kane Micallef whose shot was deflected to a corner. Then, attempts by Matthew Borg and Bjorn Bondin finished just wide of the Saints goal.

Ryan Zammit tried his luck for San Gwann with a rasping drive that finished out and just before the break the same player hit just high over the bar.

Zahra was unlucky on 58 minutes when his shot, destined to reach the net, was inadvertently blocked by his team-mate Alan Borg on the goal line.

Lee Cumbo was sent off in the 72nd minute as Sapiano was alert in the Melita goal to stop shots by Clint Gatt and Sergio Hili.

On 80 minutes Sapiano was beaten by Zahra following good work by Brincat. The latter wrapped up the points for the 10-man Saints with a second goal a minute from time.

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

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, S. Bonnici, G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, M. Martin (S. Galea), J. Galea, B. Bondin, M. Borg II, D. Azzopardi (G. Degabriele), K. Micallef.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Mgarr United 1
Balzan Youths 2

Two second-half goals, scored by substitute Alistair Camilleri, earned Balzan Youths a very important win as they are now joint leaders with San Gwann on 41 points from 20 matches. Mgarr are in deep relegation trouble.

Balzan were close early on through Kurt Coleiro and Aaron Agius and on the half-hour they wasted an incredible opportunity as Antoine Sacco shot wide with an open goal at his mercy.

In the 36th minute, Mgarr took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Victor Micallef on Alex Portelli. Eric Sciberras duly converted from the spot.

Balzan's reaction produced a shot by Ives Bilocca which hit the post and on another occasion Gilbert Scerri lobbed just over the bar from close range.

Balzan laid siege on the Mgarr goal in the second half. They were denied by Marmara off a header by Coleiro but drew level in the 70th minute when Camilleri headed in from a Scerri free-kick.

Scerri was close following a fine solo move and six minutes from time a shot by Simon Mizzi just missed the target. On 88 minutes, Balzan scored the winning goal through Camilleri. Mgarr had Gordon Said sent off in injury-time.

Mgarr: B. Debattista (R. Marmara), G. Said, C. Attard, W. Camilleri, C. Gauci, M. Borg, A. Portelli (S. Camilleri), C. Scerri, J. Borg, N. Busuttil, E. Sciberras (M. Muscat).

Balzan: B. Bonello, R. Farrugia, V. Micallef (D. Mamo), R. Mifsud, J. Agius, A. Lagana, G. Scerri, A. Agius, I. Bilocca, K. Coleiro (S. Mizzi), A. Sacco (A. Camilleri).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Sirens 2
Sta Venera 1

This was a useless victory for bottom-placed Sirens as they are already doomed to Division Three at the end of the season. Sirens beat mid-table side Sta Venera for their first victory of the season with the promising Glenn Gatt scoring the goals for the winners and Romeo Schembri playing a blinder in goal.

Schembri denied the Saints from an early lead following saves on shots by Mark Grech. On 11 minutes, Gatt put Sirens ahead after he was put through by Giovanni Galea.

Schembri distinguished himself with a series of fine saves but could do nothing to stop Sta Venera from scoring an equaliser on 33 minutes when Grech hit home from an angle.

Both sides created good chances to score again after the break but a minute from time it was Gatt who took advantage from an indecision between Yau Mun Law and goalkeeper Elvin Attard to score Sirens' winner.

Sirens defender Neil Mercieca was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Sirens: R. Schembri, J. Xuereb, R. Bonett, N. Mercieca, K. Galea, A. Xuereb, Z. Galea, I. Borg (K. Zammit), Giov. Galea (P. Barbara), G. Gatt, G. Galea (J. Camilleri).

Sta Venera: E. Attard, M. Muscat, D. Piccinino, C. Abela, Y.M. Law, S. Farrugia, G. Micallef, D. Demanuele (P. Spiteri), M. Grech, J. Galea (I. Falzon), D. Mercieca.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

St Andrew's 1
Birzebbuga SP 0

A goal scored by substitute Michael Calleja saw St Andrew's winning three precious points from their match against Birzebbuga to move outside the drop zone.

The first half was a drab affair with play resulting mostly in the midfield sector. St Andrew's were unlucky though when a Neil Gatt Coleiro shot from the distance hit the bar.

Ronnie Celeste almost put Birzebbuga ahead soon after the restart and at the other end a dangerous effort by Jeremy Gatt Coleiro was stopped by the goalkeeper.

The deadlock was only broken a minute from time when Calleja scored the goal that mattered to lift St Andrew's to a more safe eighth place in the standings.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, Ant. Galea (Ad. Galea), E. Hili, A. Camilleri Kamsky, A. Busuttil (B. Chetcuti), M. Valenzia (M. Calleja), J. Gatt Coleiro.

Birzebbuga: J.P. Mercieca, D. Baldacchino (L. Burke), E. Saliba, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, D. Burke, R. Celeste (C. Borg), S. Aquilina (M. Ciappara), J. Zammit, D. Gatt, E. Azzopardi.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Division Three - Section 'A'

Siggiewi 1
Zejtun Corinthians 4

Zejtun chalked up their fourth victory of the season. They practically won the points in the opening half during which they scored three times.

Zejtun were denied by the post from a Marco Gerada shot but broke the deadlock in the 38th minute from a penalty, scored by Gerada himself.

Andy Portelli made it 2-0 on 42 minutes and in first half added time Brian Testaferrata hit home the Corinthians' third goal.

Siggiewi were the better team after the break and reduced the arrears on 57 minutes through Eman Ciappara following good work by Josef Micallef.

Ciappara's shot hit the upright 14 minutes from time and five minutes later Zejtun made sure of the points following Jean Paul Abela's goal.

Siggiewi: C. Schembri, C. Bez-zina, J. Scerri, M. Vella, M. Aquilina, J. Micallef, J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo (A. Farrugia), E. Ciappara, J. Mascena (J. Debono), K. Buhagiar (M. Camilleri).

Zejtun: R. Gafa, S. Shead (J. Mizzi), N. Gerada, K. Tonna, J. Abela, B. Testaferrata, J.P. Abela, M. Gerada, G. Azzopardi Busuttil (S. Schembri), A. Portelli (F. Cesare), A. Farrugia.

Referee: Chris Francalanza.

Ghaxaq 1
Mdina Knights 2

Mdina striker Matthew Francalanza scored the goals for his team to stay in the promotion hunt.

Francalanza opened the score on 13 minutes after his first shot was partially saved by goalkeeper Celeste.

Ghaxaq's reaction was immediate and they started to share the exchanges, going close through Ludvic Camilleri and Noel Bilocca.

However, it was Mdina who scored a second goal on 63 minutes following a powerful Francalanza drive that gave Celeste no chance.

Brian Barbara's shot was stopped by the Mdina woodwork and a minute from time Ludvic Camilleri scored a consolation goal for his team.

Ghaxaq: P. Celeste, E. Dimech, C. Xuereb, A. Brignone (M. Muscat), C. Christiano, M. Axiaq, B. Barbara, L. Camilleri, K. Gambin, N. Bilocca (M. Cassar), F. Galea.

Mdina: R. Sciberras, A. Vassallo, L. Mercieca, G. Naudi, G. Camilleri, M. Paris, N. Micallef, J. Debono (G. Frendo), A. Scerri, A. Buhagiar (A. Farrugia), M. Francalanza (I. Sammut).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Mtarfa 0
Xghajra Tornadoes 4

Xghajra obtained a useful victory in their pursuit of a place in the promotion play-offs. They met no resistance from Mtarfa who hardly ever tested the Xghajra keeper.

Xghajra started on the attack and their persistence was rewarded on 39 minutes when Lizio Grech hit inside the net after dribbling past Mtarfa keeper Adrian Muscat.

Jesmond Azzopardi made it 3-0 with two goals either side of half-time as the Tornadoes kept up the pressure on their weak opponents.

Xghajra wrapped up the points midway through the second half when Azzopardi collected his hat-trick when hitting home from inside the box.

Mtarfa: A. Muscat, P. Spiteri, M. Bonavia, C. Borg, L. Wingfield, G. Cumbo (A. Micallef), M. Stivala, A. Calleja, R. Attard (S. Meilak), J. Farrugia, S. Briffa.

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, A. Muscat (D. Muscat), F. Mizzi, M. Portelli, B. Magro, A. Azzopardi, L. Grech (G. Micallef), J. Azzopardi, J. Abela (C. Magro), J. Cachia, N. Attard.

Referee: Adrian Caruana.

Division Three - Section 'B'

Gharghur 3
Kalkara 0

Gharghur emerged worthy winners from this match against lowly Kalkara to maintain their challenge for the play-offs.

Gharghur took the lead in the 13th minute through a Robert Southward grounder following a good move by Marvic Grech.

Grech made it 2-0 from a free-kick on 18 minutes as Gharghur were superior to their opponents in all departments.

Seven minutes into the second half, Gharghur were denied by goalkeeper Barbara off a powerful shot by Grech with Kalkara's Anton Cassar blasting wide from an ideal scoring position.

Gharghur sealed their deserved victory in the 82nd minute.

A Christian Glass shot hit the bar, the rebound was picked up by Jeffrey Bonello whose cross was met by Antonello Brincat who beat Barbara from close in.

Gharghur: F. Piscopo, D. Borg (J.P. Galea), K. Pisani, C. Debattista, D. Galea, R. Southward (A. Brincat), J. Schembri, E. Lapira, M. Grech, C. Glass, M. Buttigieg (J. Bonello).

Kalkara: M. Barbara, H. Spiteri, A. Cassar (M. Cassar), K. Schembri, N. Gatt, C. Barbara, N. Zerafa (C. Vassallo), M. Scerri (J. Camilleri), M. Drago, J. Mizzi, C. Wait.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut.