Pirrone's hat-trick fuels Gżira's perfect start

Gżira United 3
Għargħur 2

Gżira maintained their perfect record after claiming three priceless points in their pursuit for a promotion slot, all their three goals coming from Alessandro Pirrone.

The Maroons went close after 10 minutes with a Richard Attard shot that finished just wide while Għargħur hit back with an effort from Shaun Vella that was neutralised by Keith Camilleri.

Action swung from one end to the other until Dylan Musu opened the score for Għargħur on 37 minutes, his shot taking a deflection off Hubert Gatt Bonello on its way home.

Keeper Mark Aquilina held back Attard's shot and Gżira's efforts were rewarded on 61 minutes when Pirrone equalised with a grounder after being served by Mifsud.

But, Għargħur regained the lead with 20 minutes to go thanks to a fine goal by Vella only for Pirrone to level matters again soon after.

Ten minutes from time, Mifsud weaved his way through before releasing Pirrone who had no difficulty finding the opponents' net from close in.

Gżira: K. Camilleri, H. Gatt Bonello, G. Mizzi (J. Mallia), J. Tabone, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Felice, M. Cocks, T. Micallef (M. Sultana), M. Mifsud, R. Attard (S. Gatt), A. Pirrone.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea, D. Borg, C. Muscat, J. Buttigieg, D. Musu, R. Southward (M. Mercieca), E. Lapira, A. Spiteri (B. Chetcuti), S. Vella, K. Vella Petroni.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Żurrieq 1
St Andrew's 3

St Andrew's confirmed they are well-equipped to fight for the honours this season. Wayne Attard has assembled an exciting team with a number of promising players and a couple of experienced ones, like Anatole Debono and Reuben Gauci, as inspiration.

The Saints laid siege on the Reds' goal and opened the scoring on 10 minutes following a Michael Ellul goal from a free-kick.

Debono's volley was brilliantly saved by the Żurrieq keeper and on another occasion the St Andrew's player hit just wide from the edge of the area.

The Saints kept pushing forward and on 37 minutes a Patrick Briscoe White centre was finished off by Debono.

At the change of ends, Żurrieq started to see more of the ball even though it was Michael Grima who almost made it 3-0 for the Saints. Daniel Zammit was a whisker away from pulling one back for the Reds on 69 minutes but the Saints practically closed the match soon after when Grima hit home past Azzopardi.

Żurrieq conceded their first upset of the season but, at least, they managed to score a consolation goal late on when Jeffrey Camilleri fired in following a corner.

Żurrieq: F. Azzopardi, Jos. Briffa, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, J. Camilleri, J. Saliba, M. Spiteri (D. Bonnici), D. Zammit, Joh. Briffa (O. Oluseyi), S. Azzopardi, L. Vella (C. Shumba).

St Andrew's: R. Gauci, P. Briscoe White, B. Diacono, N. Chetcuti, J. Bugeja, D. Cuschieri (L. Attard), M. Ellul, A. Debono, K. Coleiro (M. Calleja), M. Grima, N. Vella Petroni (K. Galea).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Birżebbuġa SP 0
Sta Venera 2

This was Sta Venera's first win of the season as Birżebbuġa were unable to match their opponents' determined play and seemed a totally different team from the one that had previously obtained two convincing victories.

The seasiders' keeper, Gabriel Mansueto, did well in the opening minutes to stop Mark Grech's shot and Sta Venera were unlucky on 16 minutes when a Jeffrey Zammit effort hit the bar.

The Saints went close once again through Grech whose shot was again stopped by Mansueto but the latter could do nothing in first-half stoppage time to stop Daniel Zuccaro's shot following a corner.

Birżebbuġa tried to make a reaction in the second half and went close through an Elton Bugeja free-kick which went wide. Sta Venera replied with a Gareth Magri header which just missed the upright.

Sta Venera doubled their lead 11 minutes from time. A shot by Carl Azzopardi was partially saved by Mansueto and Grech was first to pounce on the loose ball to make it 2-0.

The Saints almost made it 3-0 in stoppage time but George Falzon's shot crashed against the woodwork.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, M. Ciappara, B. Farrugia, E. Saliba, R. Adami (M. Zammit), E. Bugeja, C. Formosa, M. Ellul (E. Desira), A. Mangion, R. Celeste, C. Camenzuli (K. Muscat).

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, G. Magri, R. Borg, M. Muscat, D. Zuccaro, S. Farrugia, A. Ellul (C. Azzopardi), G. Micallef, J. Zammit (G. Falzon), M. Grech (R. Carbonaro), I. Zammit.

Referee: Andrew Sammut.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Senglea Athletic 1

Senglea picked up their first point despite having to play the final half hour with nine players after having Timothy Thomas and Donald Gatt sent off. Both teams are still without a win so far.

Rangers were close early on through Johan Cilia but in their first attack Senglea broke the deadlock when Thomas hit home after keeper Martin Pace only managed to parry a shot by Jovin Abela.

Joe Mercieca saw his shot stopped by George Attard in the Senglea goal and at the other end Thomas was denied by the alert Pace.

Żebbuġ doubled up their efforts after the break but lacked punch up front. Then, on 53 minutes, Gatt was sent off for a second caution and seven minutes later Senglea suffered yet another setback with Thomas getting a straight red card for retaliation.

Action was only taking place in one half of the pitch now but Rangers had to wait until the 82nd minute to pierce the opponents' defensive fort when George Saliba beat Attard with a rasping grounder.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, K. Farrugia, J. Saliba, E. Calleja, R. Ellul (O. Rababah), J. Cilia, S. Calleja, J. Mercieca, M. Deguara, G. Scerri (M. Ciantar) (J. Galea).

Senglea: G. Attard, B. Zerafa, S. Cassar, H. Hughes, J. Abela, A. Sciortino (J. Spiteri), D. Grech, D. Gatt, N. Abela (D. Tonna), B. Dalli (F. Dingli), T. Thomas.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.