Youngsters sole leaders after thrilling win

Charles Mercieca came off the bench to score a decisive stoppage-time goal that gave Nadur Youngsters a 4-3 win over Għajnsielem. Thanks to this victory, Nadur opened up a three-point gap over SK Victoria Wanderers at the top of the table.

In other matches, Victoria Hotspurs beat champions Sannat Lions 2-0 while Kerċem Ajax edged SK Victoria Wanderers 1-0.

For the second consecutive match, Għajnsielem were involved in a thrilling encounter. The Blacks went ahead through Joe Attard on 15 minutes but Claudio Antunes levelled matters four minutes later.

Just past the half hour, Josef Buttigieg put Nadur in the lead with a shot from outside the area and two minutes from the break, Kyle Russell increased their lead.

The Blacks reduced the arrears on 53 minutes following an own goal by keeper Steve Sultana who tumbled over the line with ball in hand in an attempt to stop a Thiago Dos Santos centre.

Għajnsielem's efforts were rewarded eight minutes from the end when Kenneth Mercieca made it 3-3 following some good work by Errol Grima.

However, Nadur were not to be denied and, in a frantic finale, Mercieca headed home from a corner. Nadur's celebrations led to the sending-off of Josef Buttigieg for a second caution.

Victoria Hotspurs also left it late to clinch their first points in the championship.

For this match, Sannat had striker Fernando de Andrade and Mark Muscat missing. The match did not live up to expectations as the two teams found it very hard to create openings.

The Hotspurs improved in the final stages and opened the scoring 14 minutes from time thanks to an Uchenne Anyanwu grounder.

Sannat were shocked and the Hotspurs secured the points with a second goal scored by substitute Reuben Mercieca with a shot from the distance.

SK Victoria Wanderers failed to keep in touch with Nadur following the upset to Kerċem. The Wanderers squandered a golden opportunity on 20 minutes when Manuel Cordina shot high with an open goal at his mercy. Kerċem scored the goal that mattered on 27 minutes thanks to Milos Stojanovic.

The Citizens produced a determined reaction after the break but Kerċem keeper Courtney Mercieca saved the result for his side with a string of fine saves.

Division Two

• Xagħra United beat Munxar Falcons 1-0 to register a third consecutive win and stay top of Division Two.

Munxar had Joseph Cordina sent off on 30 minutes and Eman Bugeja scored the winner for Xagħra United nine minutes from time.

GFA Cup

• In the first match from the preliminary round of the GFA Cup, Żebbuġ Rovers turned defeat into victory to move into the next round.

Għarb's Jonathan Apap opened the scoring on 15 minutes but Sylvan Galea levelled matters during first-half added time. Chris Gafa scored the decisive goal on 58 minutes.

Summaries

Sannat Lions 0
Victoria Hotspurs 2
Anyanwu 78; Mercieca 84

Sannat Lions
P. Galea, A. Debono (N. Micallef), F. Debono (R. Farrugia), M. Azzopardi, B. Njoku, N. Filipov, M. Formosa, J. Portelli, S. Rais, J. Camilleri, R. Saverino.

Victoria Hotspurs
M. Grima, M. Vella, J.P. Grima, J. Emanche, N. Borg, J. Mizzi (R. Grech), J. Xerri, O. Farrugia (R. Mercieca), E. Nkwankwo, U. Anyanwu, A. Tamboo (D. Farrugia).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Għajnsielem 3
Attard 16; Sultana 53 o.g.; Mercieca 82
Nadur Youngsters 4
Antunes 19; J. Buttigieg 31; Russell 43; Mercieca 90+4

Għajnsielem
J. Grech, R. Grima, F. Apap, R. Cariaga, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, K. Mercieca, J. Attard, E. Grima, T. Dos Santos, F.L. Galea.

Nadur Youngsters
S. Sultana, M. Portelli (C. Mercieca), J. Meilaq, P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, P. Camilleri, K. Russell, S. Attard, C. Antunes, A. Portelli (C. Hili), J. Buttigieg.

Red card: J. Buttigieg (NY) 90+5.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

SK Victoria Wanderers 0
Kerċem Ajax 1
Stojanovic 27

SK Victoria Wanderers
A. Parnis, S. Gatt, D. Muscat, D.U. Monday, A. Williams, M. Buttigieg (L. Dimech), J. Refalo, C. Sciortino (J. Vella), I. Adesina, A. Adesina, M. Cordina.

Kerċem Ajax
C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri (L. Camilleri), M. Tabone, D. Sakic, A. Grech (J. Debrincat), D. Mercieca, J.P. Mizzi, M. Mamo, M. Stojanovic, E. Hussein, M.A. Ribeiro.

Referee: Reno Refalo.