Balzan sweat to beat Naxxar, Melita stay in promotion hunt

Balzan Youths 5
Naxxar Lions 3

Newly-crowned champions Balzan Youths had to fight hard to overcome the stiff resistance of relegation-haunted Naxxar Lions in an entertaining match.

The first half was an exciting affair with Balzan going close early on through Trevor Thomas and Alistair Camilleri.

On 17 minutes, Balzan were awarded a penalty for a foul on Thomas and Ivan Zammit beat David Vella from the spot.

The Youths doubled their lead on 24 minutes. Ismael Zammit's shot came off the post and from the rebound, Ivan Zammit squared the ball to Camilleri who tapped home.

Naxxar made a strong reaction and struck twice in the space of two minutes to restore equilibrium. Ryan Sammut scored with a header on 28 minutes before Mark Deguara finished off a good move by Adrian Fenech to make it two-all on the half-hour.

Balzan regained the lead two minutes after the restart through Thomas after good work by Ivan Zammit but Naxxar refused to give in. They made it 3-3 in the 55th minute from a Victor Bellia penalty after a foul on Mark Deguara.

On 62 minutes, Balzan were reduced to 10 men when Thomas was dismissed for dissent.

Naxxar tried to profit from their numerical advantage but it was Balzan who struck again when Ivan Zammit fired home after receiving from Camilleri.

Camilleri sealed the points for Balzan nine minutes from time for a final 5-3 scoreline.

Balzan: J. Galea, C. Micallef (J. Agius), L. Stivala, B. Bondin, C. Sciberras (R. Farrugia), J. Francica, Is. Zammit, L. Gregory (C. Caruana), Iv. Zammit, T. Thomas, A. Camilleri.

Naxxar: D. Vella, J. Mercieca, A. Catania, M. Coleiro, J. Sank, T. Fenech, R. Sammut, A. Del Negro (C. Farrugia), M. Deguara, V. Bellia (D. Falzon), A. Fenech.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Mġarr United 2

Relegation rivals Żebbuġ Rangers and Mġarr United had to settle for a point apiece after a 2-2 draw. The result left Żebbuġ needing one point from their remaining match against Birżebbuġa St Peter's to retain their Division Two status.

Mġarr's remaining hope is that of reaching the play-offs at the expense of Naxxar Lions.

Mġarr played the better football during the first half. After going close through Alex Portelli, Mġarr took a deserved lead on 14 minutes through Matthew Muscat from a cross by Paul Fenech.

On 29 minutes, a Simon Mizzi free-kick hit the post and Mġarr striker Josef Micallef shot in from close-range but the 'goal' was disallowed for an offside infringement.

Gradually, Żebbuġ began to share the exchanges and drew level in the 39th minute, Errol Cachia rifling home from a Timothy Thomas cross.

However, four minutes later, Mġarr restored their lead when Micallef hit home from a Muscat cross.

Żebbuġ dictated the run of play after the change of ends. Efforts from Jonathan Sapiano and Marlon Vella just missed the target.

The Rangers deservedly drew level 17 minutes from time through an excellent shot by Gordon Mallia. At the other end, the Żebbuġ keeper brought off a fine save to deny Muscat.

Żebbuġ continued to push forward and went close to scoring on two occasions. A Donald Gatt free-kick brought the best out of the Mġarr keeper and then, a shot by Elton Calleja hit the crossbar.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, G. Mallia, B. Galea, E. Calleja, R. Micallef (J. Cilia), C. Tabone, J. Sapiano (D. Gatt), M. Vella, T. Thomas, E. Cachia.

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

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Melita 3
Gozo 0

A fine second-half performance earned the Amateurs a deserved win over Gozo. Thanks to this victory, Melita have moved three points ahead of Lija Athletic but the latter have a game in hand. If Lija beat Naxxar Lions, they will face the Amateurs in a promotion decider.

The first half was largely fought out in midfield with Melita going close after just two minutes through Matthew Borg I whose low shot was saved by Steve Sultana.

The Gozitans replied through a dangerous attempt by John Camilleri with the Amateurs twice going close with headers by George Gribbon which finished wide.

A minute short of the half-hour mark, a free-kick by Matthew Borg I was headed in by Kane Micallef but the 'goal' was disallowed for a foul on a Gozitan defender.

Melita continued to push forward with Julian Galea shooting just wide. Before the break, a shot by Matthew Borg I was stopped by Sultana.

On the resumption, the Amateurs raised their game but the first scoring chance fell to the Gozitans. John Camilleri was denied by Melita goalkeeper Sapiano.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Melita broke the deadlock, Jonathan Mifsud guiding the ball past Sultana after a Gribbon header had cannoned off the crossbar.

The Amateurs kept up the pressure. Borg II missed a golden opportunity to double their lead but 18 minutes from time, Borg I sealed their win with an angled shot.

Six minutes later, Borg I scored his second of the game after finishing off a good move by Borg II.

Gozo might have reduced the deficit but Rodney Buttigieg's header was cleared off the line by Gribbon.

Five minutes from time, Gozo ended with 10 players when Josmar Vella was sent off for a second caution. In the final minutes, Melita had a Galea goal disallowed for an offside infringement.

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

Gozo: S. Sultana, J. Cefai, P. Buttigieg, X. Attard, B. Meilaq (J. Said), J. Vella, J. Buttigieg, S. Muscat, J. Camilleri, A. Portelli (I. Xuereb), O. Farrugia (R. Buttigieg).

Referee: Andrè Arciola.

St Andrew's 1
Mellieħa 2

Mellieħa ended their league commitments, with a deserved win over St Andrew's thanks to a Wayne Borg St John brace.

The Saints were unlucky early on as they twice hit the post through efforts by Michael Calleja and Luka Desira Buttigieg. The woodwork also denied the Northerners on 17 minutes when Marvin Abela's cross-shot flashed against the upright.

Mellieħa forged ahead after 20 minutes when Philip Camilleri's throughball put Borg St John clear and the striker fired an angled shot into the net.

The Saints responded with efforts by Desira Buttigieg and Calleja that just missed the target.

On 33 minutes, St Andrew's goalkeeper Tabone did well to keep out a Borg St John shot and from the rebound, Kayne Said incredibly hit wide in front of a gaping goal.

The second half was balanced. Nicky Vella Petroni and Matthew Calascione missed good chances for the Saints who managed to draw level on 66 minutes with a fine effort by Michael Grima.

However, their joy was shortlived as two minutes later, hesitant goalkeeping by Tabone allowed Borg St John to put Mellieħa 2-1 up.

Borg St John had the chance to complete his hat-trick late on but his shot bounced off the upright before St Andrew's cleared.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, A. Camilleri Kamsky, B. Diacono, W. Camilleri, N. Chetcuti, N. Vella Petroni (E. Grima), D. Cuschieri (G. Fenech), M. Valenzia, M. Calleja (M. Grima), L. Desira Buttigieg, M. Calascione.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Abela (J. Vella), W. Borg, P. Camilleri (M. Borg), K. Gauci, D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, K. Said (L. Attard), Ph. Camilleri, K. Cassar, L. Cauchi.

Referee: Chris Francalanza.