Sannat go three points clear

Title favourites Sannat Lions have moved three points clear at the top of Division One after a close win over Nadur Youngsters. SK Victoria Wanderers' hopes suffered a blow after they went down to relegation strugglers Kerċem Ajax.

Għajnsielem enjoyed a comfortable victory over Qala St Joseph to move up to second place, three points behind Sannat. Victoria Hotspurs also boosted their title chances after thrashing Qala 4-1 in their last outing.

Sannat Lions needed only four minutes to take the lead in their clash with Nadur Youngsters. Sabri Rais directed the ball into the net following a corner action. The Lions were unlucky not to double their lead on 19 minutes when an attempt by Mark Muscat hit the post.

Ten minutes from half-time, John Camilleri concluded a fine move on the left flank by Fernando de Andrade to put Sannat 2-0 ahead.

Nadur re-opened the issue when Alex Simoncic scored with a well-taken free-kick seven minutes into the second half. However, Sannat maintained their composure and could have added to their tally in the dying moments but De Andrade twice missed the target from point blank.

Għajnsielem extended their positive run with a 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Qala St Joseph. The Blacks made sure of victory with three goals inside the opening half through Charles Mercieca, Franklee Galea and Sarkis Goncalves, the latter from the penalty spot.

Għajnsielem remained the better side after the break. Kenneth Mercieca had a goal disallowed for an offside infringement.

In the latter stages, Għajnsielem goalkeeper Joseph Grech denied Qala a consolation goal with good saves from a Mario Mifsud free-kick and two shots by Peter Said.

SK Victoria Wanderers went down to a surprise defeat to Kerċem Ajax. The latter shocked the Wanderers with two early goals by Josef Debrincat and Milan Cvetic.

The Citizens gradually recovered from that double setback and reduced the arrears in the 17th minute through Mark Buttigieg.

The game now became very interesting with the Wanderers going close to gaining an equaliser with efforts by Ajibade Adesina while Kerċem might have increased their lead through an effort by Milos Stojanovic that was cleared off the line by Franco Magrin.

Victoria made it 2-2 on 51 minutes through Ajibade Adesina and less than a minute later, they could have turned the result in their favour but substitute Lauran Dimech's close-range attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Leonard Camilleri.

In the final stages of the game, Kerċem increased the pressure and their efforts were rewarded seven minutes from time when Debrincat headed home from a Cvetic corner.

Seconds from the final whistle, Kerċem goalkeeper Camilleri saved victory for his team with a fine save from Ige Adesina.

Victoria Hotspurs also maintained their positive streak with a convincing win over Qala St Joseph. The Hotspurs struggled to subdue Qala's resistance in the first hour but they dominated Qala after forging ahead.

Qala missed a great opportunity to open the scoring after 12 minutes when a penalty kick by Ricardo Saverino, awarded for a foul by Michael Vella on the same Saverino, hit the post. Qala kept insisting though, and Eric Nkwankwo fired them ahead nine minutes from half-time. An effort by Charles Hili came off the woodwork.

The Hotspurs played better after the break and on the hour mark, Hanus headed home to make it 1-1. Four minutes later, Manwel Cordina put the Hotspurs 2-1 up and Hanus converted an 85th-minute penalty, given for a foul by Dione Lautier on substitute Marvin Buttigieg, to increase his team's advantage.

Jason Portelli scored with a direct free-kick two minutes from time to seal Victoria's win.

Victoria Hotspurs 4
Hanus 60, 85 pen., Cordina 64, Portelli 89
Qala St Joseph 1
Nkwankwo 36

Victoria
M. Grima, D. Farrugia, M. Vella, R. Grech (R. Mercieca), J. Portelli, M. Cordina, M. Hanus, N. Borg, A. Zammit, J. Xerri (M. Buttigieg), J. Mizzi (A. Tramboo).

Qala
V. Agius, J. Galea, P. Camilleri, M. Secco, P. Said, D. Lautier, C. Hili (N. Portelli), J. Xerri, M. Mifsud, R. Saverino, E. Nkwankwo.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

SK Victoria Wanderers 2
Buttigieg 17; A. Adesina 51
Kerċem Ajax 3
Debrincat 6, 83; Cvetic 8

SK Victoria W.
M. Mercieca, S. Gatt, M. Grech, D.U. Monday, F. Magrin, M. Buttigieg, J. Refalo, A. Williams, I. Adesina, A. Adesina, J. Vella (L. Dimech).

Kerċem
L. Camilleri, D. Stojanovic, M. Tabone, J. Mercieca (S. Grech), J. Debrincat, M. Stojanovic, D. Mercieca, E. Hussain, J.P. Mizzi (M. Vella), A. Grech, M. Cvetic.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Qala St Joseph 0
Għajnsielem 3
Mercieca 11; Galea 15; Goncalves 39 pen.

Qala
V. Agius, M. Secco, J. Galea (M. Tabone), P. Camilleri, M. Mifsud, P. Said, J. Xerri, E. Nkwankwo, R. Saverino (N. Portelli), D. Lautier, D. Abela.

Għajnsielem
J. Grech, D. Debattista, F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak (C. Tabone), K. Mercieca, J. Attard (F. Apap), A. Viana, S. Goncalves, F.L. Galea (L. Buttigieg).

Referee: Jurgen Spiteri.

Sannat Lions 2
Rais 4; Camilleri 35
Nadur Youngsters 1
Simoncic 52

Sannat
P. Galea, B. Njoku, A. Debono, M. Muscat, F. Debono, E. Bugeja, M. Formosa, F. De Andrade, J. Camilleri, S. Rais, S. Brazilino.

Nadur
S. Sultana, J. Meilaq, M. Portelli, P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, B. Timotic, S. Attard, B. Brajovic, S. Muscat, A. Portelli (J. Portelli, R. Meilaq), J. Muscat.

Referee: Anton Zammit.