Lija trounce Marsa 4-0 to maintain perfect start

Marsa 0
Lija Athletic 4

Patrick Zammit's Lija notched a third successive win and are now sole leaders in the standings.

They took hold of the proceedings and after only three minutes a lob by Chris Pace bounced off the Marsa bar. Beppe Antignolo and Chris Pace went close before Andre Scicluna made it 1-0 on 12 minutes with a firm header from a corner.

A minute later it was 2-0 following an angled shot by Chris Pace.

Marsa's best effort came from a Daniel Gatt free-kick which was saved by Bonnici.

Lija retained territorial dominance after the break even though Marsa almost pulled one back from Joe Rizzo and Adam Spiteri.

On 54 minutes Pace headed the ball past Grima from a Lydon Cilia corner and three minutes from time Lija sealed the issue with an Antignolo goal for a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Marsa: D. Grima, A. Galea, K. Scerri, B. Zammit, J. Rizzo, J.P. Zammit (G. Cutajar), A. Spiteri, N. Vassallo (J. Dalli), D. Gatt, C. Cioffi (O. Zammit), S. Farrugia.

Lija: L. Bonnici, R. Farrugia, A. Spiteri, M. Mangion, M. Borg (H. Friggieri), D. Cremona (I. Tarik), B. Antignolo, L. Cilia, C. Pace (M. Cremona), A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Mġarr United 1
St Andrew's 1

St Andrew's were on their way to their first win of the season but were eventually denied by a Josef Micallef penalty deep into stoppage time to earn Mġarr their first point.

The Saints wasted a clear goal-scoring opportunity through Jonathan Briscoe White early on and on another occasion a Michael Valenzia free-kick finished just high over the bar.

St Andrew's continued to push forward but from a Mġarr breakthrough a Micallef shot almost deceived Tabone in goal.

Michael Calleja opened the score for the Saints on 58 minutes and the team looked well in control to secure victory but four minutes into added time, Mġarr were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement inside the box. Micallef made no mistake from the spot.

The Saints ended up with ten players when William Camilleri was sent off for passing unwarranted remarks to the referee.

Mġarr: K. Ellul, C. Muscat, C. Bugeja, W. Camilleri, C. Gauci, S. Camilleri, S. Mizzi, A. Portelli (P. Fenech), J. Micallef, N. Busuttil (E. Grech). S. Aquilina (M. Muscat).

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, T. Sullivan (B. Diacono), J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, A. Camilleri Kamsky (W. Camilleri), N. Vella Petroni, M. Valenzia, M. Calleja, A. Busuttil (G. Fenech), M. Ellul.

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.

Melita 0
Balzan Youths 0

This was a disappointing match between two of the best teams in the championship with Balzan having to play for most of the time with ten players after having Cedric Sciberras sent off on 32 minutes.

Melita keeper Sapiano did well to keep out an Ivan Zammit shot after five minutes with the Amateurs hitting back with a David Agius drive, that finished just high, and a Gregory Degabriele free-kick that was stopped by Galea.

On the half-hour Balzan went close through Bjorn Bondin but two minutes later they suffered a severe setback as central defender Sciberras was sent off for elbowing.

Despite the handicap, the Youths went close on two occasions late in the first half through Aaron Agius and Jerryton Agius.

The second period failed to produce good football with play resulting mainly in midfield.

Galea was on the right spot to parry a shot by Matthew Borg I and from the rebound Luke Micallef's effort was deflected to a corner.

The Balzan keeper was again prominent with a difficult save on a George Gribbon shot. In the end, the stalemate prevailed.

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

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

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Birżebbuġa 1
Mellieħa 1

Birżebbuġa played their best match so far this season and returned home with a point as Mellieħa retained their unbeaten run after three games.

The northerners dictated the run of play in the initial stages with Birżebbuġa keeper Paul Celeste doing well to stop Cassar and Jeffrey Gauci from scoring.

Noel Tabone could have done better for the southerners but he was denied by the alert Simon Gauci. Gradually, Birżebbuġa got more into the picture and just before half-time Ronnie Celeste hit wide when all alone in front of goal.

Birżebbuġa were the better team after the change of ends and created other chances to open the score but it was Mellieħa who took the lead in the 65th minute when David Fenech hit home from a Reuben Vella centre.

Birżebbuġa's immediate reaction produced a deserved equaliser five minutes later, Gilbert Scerri beating Gauci with a rasping grounder from the edge of the box.

Birżebbuġa were reduced to ten players in added time when Cassar was red-carded for showing dissent to the referee.

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

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, W. Borg, P. Camilleri, K. Gauci, D. Fenech, R. Vella, G. Conti, M. Borg (P. Vella), K. Cassar, L. Cauchi, J. Gauci (W. Borg St John).

Referee: Mario Apap.