Sannat increase lead

Sannat Lions completed a double over champions Nadur Youngsters this season following a 2-0 win at the Gozo Stadium last weekend. With SK Victoria Wanderers and Għajnsielem drawing their match 1-1, Sannat extended their lead at the top of the standings to three points.

Having rejoined Sannat Lions after a number of spells with Maltese clubs, Sandro Brazilino made his debut against Nadur. Sannat were the more adventurous side as the Youngsters only looked threatening for a brief period midway through the first half.

Sannat opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a tap-in by John Camilleri from a rebound after a free-kick by Njoku had crashed against the bar.

Nadur might have levelled the score just before half-time when the referee awarded them a penalty for a foul by keeper Galea on Anthony Portelli. However, the latter saw his spot-kick saved by the Sannat no.1.

The Lions doubled their lead ten minutes after the restart through Fernando de Andrade who hit home from close in following a short clearance by the Nadur defence.

The champions missed some good chances to get back in contention but in the final moments, De Andrade could have sealed it for Sannat following a fast break. His attempt, however, was ably stopped by Sultana in the Nadur goal.

Għajnsielem and SK Victoria Wanderers shared the spoils in a one-all draw, a repeat of the first-round match outcome. These two teams needed a victory to keep their title hopes alive but in the end they had to settle for a point each.

SK Victoria Wanderers forged ahead on 54 minutes, substitute Joseph Vella hitting home after the Għajnsielem keeper failed to hold an Ajibade Adesina scorcher.

Vella had a goal disallowed for offside but the Blacks equalised a minute later through Joe Attard who was released in the opponents' box by Errol Grima.

In the dying minutes, the two teams pressed hard for a winner. Għajnsielem were mainly dangerous through new striker Alex Viana, of Brazil, while Victoria relied mainly on the incursions of Ige Adesina.

In a midweek game, Victoria Hotspurs ended a three-match losing run after beating Qala St Joseph 3-0 to rejoin the race for the title.

Both teams had some players missing but the Hotspurs fielded their fifth foreigner this season, Nigerian striker Lukman Adeboye.

The Saints' task became more complicated after they were forced to make two early substitutions following injuries to Ricardo Saverino and Paul Camilleri.

The Hotspurs took the lead on 32 minutes with a Joseph Mizzi header from a corner and doubled the score ten minutes from the restart when Noel Borg fired home from a Bassi cross.

Qala suffered another setback on 67 minutes when the referee showed a red card to Denis Abela for a foul on Bassi.

The Hotspurs went on to wrap up the points in stoppage time with a Daniel Farrugia goal.