Melita win in Gozo

Gozo FC 1
Melita 2

Melita chalked up a hard-earned win over Gozo FC to consolidate their second place in the standings at the end of the first round.

The Amateurs fought hard for the points and played all the second half with ten men after the dismissal of Kane Micallef.

Melita could not have hoped for a better start as they took the lead after only 13 minutes, George Gribbon firing the ball home from close in.

The Gozitans' response soon arrived and they managed to restore equilibrium five minutes later when Brian Meilak scored from a free-kick.

The hosts kept up the tempo and on 25 minutes John Camilleri's shot hit the bar. However, it was Melita who struck again on 34 minutes when Gribbon deviated the ball into the Gozo net from a corner.

The Amateurs were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time when Micallef was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Despite this setback, Melita managed to control play after the interval with Gozo rarely threatening Matthew Sapiano.

The Gozitans did put the ball in Melita's net on 88 minutes when Oliver Farrugia headed home John Camilleri's cross but the 'goal' was annulled for a foul by the Gozo forward.

Gozo FC: S. Sultana, P.P. Buttigieg, J. Cefai, J. Vella, S.F. Bajada, F.L. Galea (A. Portelli), J. Buttigieg, O. Farrugia, B. Meilaq, C. Bugeja (E. Grima), J. Camilleri.

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

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Mġarr United 2
Żebbuġ Rangers 0

Mġarr United produced their best performance of the season to outwit Żebbuġ Rangers with Josef Micallef scoring the two goals for the winners.

The first half turned out to be a balanced affair with both teams having various scoring opportunities.

Donald Gatt and George Saliba went close to put Żebbuġ ahead early on while at the other end Alex Portelli's firm effort was pushed away by Rangers keeper Martin Pace.

On 28 minutes Żebbuġ were unlucky not to take the lead when Jonathan Sapiano's shot came off the bar. Minutes later, Brian Galea put the ball in the Mġarr net but the 'goal' was disallowed for offside.

It was Mġarr who broke the deadlock on 34 minutes when Micallef hit the ball home from a Malcolm Bugeja cross.

Rangers responded with efforts by Sapiano and Lawrence Vella that failed to hit the target.

Mġarr doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Micallef headed home from another Bugeja service.

On 62 minutes, Żebbuġ could have reopened the match when they were awarded a penalty after Mġarr skipper Chris Gauci handled the ball in his area.

However, Jonathan Sapiano saw his shot pushed away by Grech.

Mġarr almost made it 3-0 on 80 minutes when Stephen Camilleri's free-kick hit the upright.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli, N. Busuttil, C. Bugeja, W. Camilleri, A. Muscat, M. Bugeja, S. Camilleri, J. Micallef (S. Mizzi), C. Gauci, S. Aquilina (D. Muscat).

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

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Mellieħa's 1
St Andrew's 2

Mellieħa's poor form continued last weekend when they suffered their fifth successive defeat this time at the hands of St Andrew's. For the Saints this was their second win of the season and are now occupying a mid-table position.

St Andrew's were off to a flier and in their first attempt at goal they forged ahead. Patrick Briscoe White's throughball released Luca Buttigieg Desira who had little difficulty in firing the ball into the Mellieħa net.

Mellieħa hit back and David Fenech brought the scores level again on 36 minutes. Seven minutes later, the same Fenech almost struck again but this time his shot was blocked by Tabone.

In time added on Fenech was close when his effort was cleared off the line by the Saints defence.

In the second half, St Andrew's grew in stature and on 55 minutes Buttigieg Desira missed a good opportunity from an inviting position.

Mellieħa threatened soon after with efforts from Gotthard Conti and David Cauchi.

However, it was St Andrew's who struck the killer blow on 72 minutes when Mellieħa defender Kevin Cassar inadvertently deviated the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear a William Camilleri cross.

Mellieħa staged a late rally to save the match but the solid Saints' defence held on.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, C. Cutajar (Ph. Camilleri), W. Borg, Pat. Camilleri (M. Borg), L. Attard (G. Vella), D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, G. Conti, K. Cassar, L. Cauchi, D. Cauchi.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, T. Martin, T. Sullivan (B. Diacono), J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, M. Valenzia (W. Camilleri), M. Grima (M. Calleja), L. Buttigieg Desira, M. Calascione.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Sta Venera Lightnings 2
Marsa 0

Sta Venera Lightnings ended their first-round commitments on a high after beating bottom-placed Marsa to chalk up their fourth win of the season.

The Lightnings seized the initiative right from the start. After five minutes Andre Cachia's cross-shot was pushed away by Demis Grima and then Alan Ellul headed just wide from routine distance.

Sta Venera broke Marsa's resistance on 20 minutes when Jeffrey Zammit nodded the ball into the path of David Calleja who made no mistake from close in.

Marsa tried to hit back and Eric Sciberras' free-kick was parried away by James Mercieca. Just before the break Joseph Rizzo's firm drive flew over.

After the change of ends Sta Venera remained on top and Grima did well to block Ellul's shot.

Midway through the second half Marsa almost equalised but Brazen Demicoli's shot just missed the target.

However, it was Sta Venera who sealed the points when substitute Mark Grech tucked the ball home after he was set up by Jeffrey Zammit.

Sta Venera: J. Mercieca, A. Cachia, A. Galea, Y. Mun Law, D. Calleja (N. Caruana), G. Micallef, A. Hili (M. Grech), S. Farrugia, J. Zammit, A. Ellul (G. Frendo), D. Zuccaro.

Marsa: D. Grima, S. Callus, B. Demicoli, B. Zammit, J. Rizzo, J. Camilleri (J.P. Zammit), G. Cutajar, E. Sciberras, A. Spiteri (W. Spiteri), P. Cachia (S. Farrugia), A. Delceppo.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Lija Athletic 2
Naxxar Lions 0

Substitute Ibrahim Tarik scored two vital goals that lifted Lija Athletic to third place in the Division Two standings.

For Naxxar this was their eighth defeat from 11 matches and are languishing in the relegation zone, one point ahead of bottom-placed Marsa.

It was Lija who controlled the proceedings early on with Naxxar goalkeeper David Vella bringing off excellent saves to keep out efforts from Chris Pace and Beppe Antignolo.

Minutes later Scerri met Andrea Spiteri's cross but his header was tipped over by the Naxxar goalkeeper.

On the stroke of half-time Michael Mangion almost put Lija ahead but he headed wide from a Spiteri corner.

After the interval, Naxxar threatened with efforts by Andy Bartolo and Mark Deguara that failed to yield a goal.

However, it was Lija who were dominating possession with Antignolo missing a glaring opportunity midway through the second half.

Lija's pressure finally forced a breakthrough six minutes from time when substitute Tarik put his team ahead with an individual effort. More woes followed for Naxxar as Junior Sank was sent off for dissent.

Numerical parity was restored two minutes later when Lija's Christian Grech was also sent off for a second caution.

However, Lija still managed to add a second goal in injury time when Tarik struck again to wrap up a good win.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Spiteri, M. Mangion, C. Grech, D. Scerri, K. Grech (L. Cilia), G. Barry (I. Tarik), J.P. Scerri, C. Pace, J. Scerri, B. Antignolo.

Naxxar: D. Vella, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J. Sank, J. Mercieca, R. Sammut, M. Coleiro (S. Cassar), M. Deguara, A. Bartolo, A. Delnegro (A. Fenech), C. Farrugia, A. Bajada.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.