Balzan maintain lead after derby win

Balzan Youths 2
Lija Athletic 0

Balzan scored a goal in each half to win the derby against Lija Athletic. It was a merited win for Balzan who dominated the match and are now four points clear at the top of the standings.

Balzan took just four minutes to break the deadlock when Kurt Coleiro thumped the ball home after controlling an Ivan Zammit pass.

Lija hit back with efforts by Martin Borg and Andre Scicluna. At the other end, Aaron Agius saw his shot hit the Lija post. In the closing stages of the first half, Balzan threatened again through efforts by Aaron Agius and Ivan Zammit.

Eight minutes after the break Lija missed a glaring opportunity with Glen Barry shooting wide in front of goal.

However, on 72 minutes Lija could do nothing to prevent Aaron Agius from making it 2-0.

The Balzan forward was put through by Zammit and beat Bonnici with a low shot.

Lija staged a late rally but Balzan managed to preserve their two-goal lead till the end.

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

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Mangion, D. Scerri, D. Cremona, M. Borg (L. Cilia), G. Barry, J.P. Scerri, C. Pace, A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar, M. Camilleri (R. Farrugia).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Mellieħa 1

Żebbuġ dented Mellieħa's promotion hopes when they beat the northerners by the odd goal in three.

It was all Mellieħa early on. Wayne Borg St John fired just over from a good position but on 10 minutes they took the lead when David Fenech scored after a fine solo move.

Żebbuġ came back strongly and George Saliba was denied by Simon Gauci and then Donald Gatt hit the bar from a corner.

Rangers continued to push more men forward and deservedly drew level when Omar Rababah tucked the ball home after Gauci had failed to hold Saliba's cross-shot.

Early in the second half, Mellieħa were unlucky when Kevin Gauci's shot hit the upright.

Żebbug stepped up a gear and Gatt and Rababah both came close to put Rangers ahead.

Żebbuġ kept up the pressure and their efforts were rewarded three minutes from time when Errol Cachia headed home from a Gatt cross.

Żebbug: M. Pace, D. Gatt (R. Ellul), R. Bugeja, B. Galea, G. Mallia, C. Tabone, M. Vella, J. Galea (O. Rababah), E. Cachia, G. Saliba, R. Attard.

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

Referee: Paul Apap.

Melita 6
Naxxar Lions 1

Melita sustained the pressure on leaders Balzan Youths when they outclassed an erratic Naxxar Lions side on Monday.

Melita were all over their opponents in the first half. After having a Matthew Borg I goal disallowed for offside, they took the lead on 13 minutes through Matthew Borg II who pounced on some poor goalkeeping by David Vella.

The Amateurs doubled their lead on 24 minutes when Kane Micallef finished off a good move by Julian Galea. Naxxar were in dissarray and three minutes later, Digger Okonkwo's back pass was intercepted by Galea who made it 3-0.

The Lions pulled a goal back on 33 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Andy Bartolo and Matthew Spiteri Gonzi duly converted.

On the hour Naxxar were reduced to ten men when Junior Sank was sent off after headbutting Micallef.

Melita increased their lead on 77 minutes when Matthew Borg I headed in from a cross by Gregory Degabriele.

The Lions failed to respond and Matthew Borg I struck two more goals late on to complete his hat-trick and seal Melita's emphatic win.

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

Naxxar: D. Vella, J. Sank, M. Spiteri Gonzi, D. Okonkwo, J. Agius (A. Delnegro), A. Fenech, K. Fenech, J. Mercieca, M. Coleiro, M. Deguara (K. Farrugia), A. Bartolo.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Birżebbuġa 2
Gozo FC 2

Gozo FC twice came from behind to take a valuable point from this encounter against Birżebbuġa St Peter's.

The match was evenly balanced early on with Alistair Buhagiar twice going close for Birżebbuġa as Gozo's protests for a penalty were turned down by the referee.

On the half-hour the Birżebbuġa goalkeeper did well to keep out John Camilleri's shot from a free-kick.

Four minutes later, Clive Formosa put Birżebbuġa ahead with a fine shot. The Gozitans soon responded and Charles Hili's header finished just over.

Gozo FC managed to equalise on 59 minutes when Hili hit the target with a long-range shot.

Two minutes later Birżebbuġa were awarded a penalty when Brian Meilaq handled the ball in the area but Ronnie Celeste saw his shot blocked by Xuereb.

On 62 minutes Gozo were unlucky when John Camilleri's shot was parried away by Celeste with the aid of the upright.

Birżebbuġa regained the lead on 79 minutes through substitute Keith Muscat but the Gozitans took just three minutes to draw level with an Anthony Portelli goal.

Birżebbuġa: P. Celeste, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella, R. Baldacchino, M. Ellul (B. Darmanin), J. Cassar, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, R. Celeste (C. Camilleri), A. Buhagiar (K. Muscat).

Gozo FC: J. Xuereb, J. Cefai, J. Vella, B. Meilaq, J.M. Portelli (R. Buttigieg), C. Hili, J. Camilleri, A. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, O. Farrugia, S.F. Bajada.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.