Late goal lifts Mġarr

Sta Venera Lightnings 3
Mġgarr United 4

Mġarr are still hoping to avoid the drop to Division Three next season thanks to a last-gasp goal that won them the points against mid-table side Sta Venera. Everything now depends on Żurrieq's final match against Sirens.

After three minutes Mġarr striker Chris Abela was denied by an excellent save from Sta Venera keeper Brian Zammit. On seven minutes, Sta Venera took the lead through Noel Portelli's shot from a pass by Mark Grech but Mġarr made it one-all on 21 minutes with an Abela goal from close in.

Mġarr were unlucky as a shot by Matthew Muscat hit the post but they forged ahead in the 29th minute with Abela getting his second goal of the day with a low shot.

Mġarr continued to maintain the initiative and just before the break an Eric Sciberras free-kick just missed the target. However, nine minutes after the restart they ended up with ten players when James Borg was sent off for a second booking.

Sta Venera equalised on 62 minutes when Ian Falzon headed in past Debattista but Mġarr regained the lead 18 minutes from time following an own goal by defender Yau Mun Law off a cross by Matthew Borg.

Mġarr seemed in control but an error by keeper Debattista led to Sta Venera's equalising goal on 88 minutes, scored by Falzon. It was not over though as Mġarr won the match with Borg scoring the all-important goal a minute from time.

Sta Venera: B. Zammit, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, Y.M. Law, P. Spiteri (I. Borg), G. Micallef, B. Vella, I. Falzon, M. Grech, D. Demanuele (J. Sammut), N. Portelli.

Mġarr UTD: B. Debattista, G. Said, C. Attard, A. Portelli, C. Gauci, N. Busuttil, M. Muscat, M. Borg, J. Borg, C. Abela, E. Sciberras (C. Scerri).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Lija Athletic 3
Melita 2

Both teams ended their league committments for the season but Melita still have to play in the KO final against Balzan Youths later on this month. Beppe Antignolo and Lydon Cilia were the inspiration behind Lija's win.

Lija went close early on through Andre Scicluna and Andre Cachia with Melita responding with a Luke Micallef effort that flashed wide. A lob by Julian Galea seemed destined to reach the back of the net but the ball was stopped by Scicluna.

Scicluna broke the deadlock for Lija just before half-time following a good move by Antignolo but seconds later Melita drew level when Micallef headed in from a cross by Jonathan Mifsud.

In first half added-time Lija were awarded a penalty for a foul by David Azzopardi on Cachia but Antignolo's shot was saved by Sapiano.

Melita opened well after the change of ends but it was Lija who regained the lead on 56 minutes through an excellent goal scored by Cilia following an Antignolo square pass.

Melita, who could have gone temporarily at the top of the standings with a victory, made it two-all on 61 minutes thanks to a Matthew Borg goal. However, seven minutes from time Lija scored the winning goal through substitute Hubert Friggieri following good work by Cilia.

Lija: J. Caruana, A. Cachia, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, A. Medati (D. Mizzi), B. Antignolo, L. Cilia, D. Gauci (H. Friggieri), A. Scicluna, J.P. Scerri.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud (L. Fenech), D. Azzopardi, G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, B. Bondin, M. Hyzler, M. Borg, J. Galea, G. Degabriele (J. Vassallo), L. Micallef.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Division Three Section 'A'

Xgħajra Tornadoes 2
Mdina Knights 1

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

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

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Scorers: N. Attard 33, L. Grech 46 (Xgħajra); A. Buhagiar 44 (Mdina).

Għaxaq 0
Siġġiewi 7

Għaxaq: P. Celeste, D. Lapira (M. Agius), E. Dimech (M. Muscat), C. Xuereb, D. Galea, M. Axiaq, A. Brignone (L. Camilleri), N. Bilocca, F. Galea, K. Gambin, M. Caruana.

Siġġiewi: C. Schembri, C. Bezzina, M. Vella (M. Cassar), E. Bugeja, M. Camilleri, J. Micallef (D. Borg), J. Camilleri, K. Buhagiar, E. Ciappara, J. Mascena, J. Taliana (M. Deguara).

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Scorers: K. Buhagiar 9, E. Ciappara 11, 75, 82, 87, J. Camilleri 55, 70.

Żejtun Corinthians 2
Żebbuġ Rangers 4

Żejtun: L. Fardell, J. Mizzi, K. Tonna (S. Curmi) R. Gafa (S. Shead), E. Caruana, B. Testaferrata, J.P. Abela, J. Abela, A. Portelli, S. Schembri, G. Azzopardi Busuttil (F. Cesare).

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Mallia, K. Farrugia, G. Saliba, A. Borg, E. Degabriele, E. Cachia (C. Borg), J. Gatt (J. Camilleri), N. Abela (T. Thomas), L. Vella, R. Attard.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Scorers: L. Vella 11, 51, T. Thomas 48, 75 (Żebbuġ); E. Caruana 77 pen, 81 pen. (Żejtun).

Division Three Section 'B'

Luqa St Andrew's 1
Gozo FC 2

Luqa: J. Agius (J. Gatt), C. Penza, C. Psaila, M. Dimech, M. Said, A. Psaila, N. Falzon, O. Psaila (B. Bartolo), L. Baldacchino, A. Pirrone, C. Caruana (M. Psaila).

Gozo FC: J. Grima, F. Camilleri (J.P. Saliba), J. Cefai, P.P. Buttigieg, B. Meilaq (J. Camilleri), J. Portelli, J. Attard, A. Portelli, C. Camilleri, J. Buttigieg, S.F. Bajada.

Referee: Alexei Tabone.

Scorers: J. Buttigieg 9, C. Camilleri 88 (Gozo); M. Said 32 (Luqa).

Red card: J. Camilleri (Gozo) 71.

Gżira United 0
Għargħur 0

Gżira: K. Camilleri, J. Tabone (L. Mangion), D. Caruana, A. Buttigieg (H. Gatt Bonello), A. White, G. Mizzi, K. Bonello, D. Agius, G. Farrugia, J. Felice (O. Spiteri), A. Muscat.

Għargħur: J.P. Vella, D. Borg, J.P. Galea, D. Galea, R. Southward, C. Glass (J. Micallef), A. Brincat, E. Lapira, J. Bonello (M. Coleiro), A. Azzopardi, M. Buttigieg.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Pembroke Athleta 0
Kalkara 1

Pembroke: R. Debattista, K. Vella, S. Micallef, M. Manicolo (S. Buhagiar), J. Scerri, J. Fenech (K. Vella), D. Bugeja, M. Sammut, L. Camilleri, C. Leonardi, L. Desira (A. Briffa).

Kalkara: D. Camilleri, H. Spiteri, C. Barbara, W. Galea (A. Cassar), K. Schembri, K. Tonna, N. Gatt, M. Drago, N. Zerafa (S. Vella), C. Vassallo (J. Mizzi), C. Waite.

Referee: Pierre Bonnici.

Scorer: J. Mizzi 85.