Melita and Gozo FC lead standings

Birżebbuġa St Peter's 0
Balzan Youths 1

Balzan Youths opened their league committments with a hard-fought win over Birżebbuġa, Aaron Agius scoring the winner.

Balzan were the better team in the first half with Cedric Sciberras, Luke Stivala and Agius all denied by Birżebbuġa keeper Paul Celeste.

But, Balzan's pressure paid off when in first-half added time Agius headed the ball home.

Birżebbuġa came more into the picture after the break and efforts by Charlton Camilleri, Jason Cassar and Noel Tabone just fell off target.

The southerners' hopes of a recovery were jolted in stoppage time when Mark Ellul was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Birżebbuġa: P. Celeste, E. Saliba, R. Baldacchino, M. Ciappara, M. Ellul, J. Cassar, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, G. Scerri (J. Camilleri), J.P. Barbara (C. Camilleri), R. Celeste (B. Farrugia).

Balzan: J. Galea, L. Stivala, D. Agius, B. Bondin, C. Sciberras, J. Francica, A. Agius (A. Camilleri), C. Abela (K. Coleiro), C. Micallef, I. Zammit (C. Caruana), A. Lagana.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

St Andrew's 1
Naxxar Lions 1

A Mark Deguara goal, two minutes from time, earned Naxxar their first point of the season in a match which saw St Andrew's dictating play throughout.

St The Saints, in fact, made all the running in the first half and Naxxar goalkeeper David Vella brought off excellent saves to stop shots from David Vella and Michael Calleja.

St Andrew's kept up the pressure after the interval and finally forged ahead on 70 minutes when Nicky Vella Petroni was tripped in the box and Michael Valenzia scored from the ensuing penalty. Valenzia then missed a clear opportunity to make it 2-0 before a Vella Petroni effort was stopped by Vella.

When all seemed lost for Naxxar, Dennis Fenech's boys managed to grab the equaliser on 88 minutes thanks to Deguara.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, T. Martin (W. Camilleri), T. Sullivan, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, E. Grima (M. Ellul), M. Calleja (A. Calleja), M. Valenzia, N. Vella Petroni.

Naxxar: D. Vella, A. Catania, J. Agius (M. Coleiro), K. Fenech, J. Mercieca (A. Spiteri), A. Fenech, E. Sank (K. Farrugia), A. Del Negro, A. Bartolo, M. Deguara, A. Bajada.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Melita 1

This clash between two of the strongest sides in Division Two ended all-square as Melita are now sharing top spot with Gozo FC while Żebbuġ have reduced their five-point penalty to minus one.

The first half saw Żebbuġ squandering a good opportunity through Timothy Thomas and, at the other end, Matthew Borg I came close for the Amateurs.

It was Żebbuġ who took the lead on 32 minutes when Thomas finished off some good work by Rio Micallef.

Melita came back strongly after the break and deservedly drew level on 64 minutes when Gregory Degabriele hit home the equaliser.

Żebbuġ almost regained the lead when Marlon Vella's shot hit the post and late on Christian Tabone could have snatched a winner but his shot never reached the desired destination.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, G. Mallia, K. Farrugia (R. Attard), B. Galea, J. Cilia, C. Tabone (L. Vella), D. Gatt, R. Micallef (J. Galea), M. Vella, T. Thomas.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, L. Fenech (R. Schembri), G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, M. Marin, K. Micallef, A. Caruana Scicluna, M. Borg II, G. Degabriele (S. Diacono), M. Borg I (L. Micallef).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Sta Venera Lightnings 0
Gozo FC 1

A first-half goal scored by Anthony Portelli shot the Gozitans to victory and top place in the standings alongside Melita.

Sta Venera created two opportunities early on through Andrew Hili and Clayton Cachia but gradually Gozo took control and opened the score on 24 minutes through Portelli.

The Lightnings suffered a blow ten minutes later when defender Clayton Cachia was sent off for a foul. Then, Josef Buttigieg's cross-shot hit the Sta Venera bar.

The Gozitans remained the better team during the second period and were unlucky on 74 minutes as Portelli's header came off the bar again.

Late in the match, the woodwork again came to the Saints' rescue when Christian Bugeja's grounder hit the upright.

Sta Venera: J. Agius, C. Cachia, M. Muscat, A. Cachia, Y.M. Law, M. Briffa (N. Caruana), A. Hili, I. Falzon (G. Micallef), J. Zammit (S. Farrugia), M. Grech, A. Ellul.

Gozo: J. Xuereb, J. Cefai, J. Portelli, J. Camilleri, J. Buttigieg, P.P. Buttigieg, C. Bugeja (J. Vella), B. Meilaq, J. Attard, A. Portelli, S. Bajada.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.