Victoria Hotspurs back in the reckoning

In the main match of the weekend, Victoria Hotspurs obtained a convincing 3-0 win over leaders Nadur Youngsters to get back in the reckoning. This was Nadur’s first upset in the championship following three consecutive wins.

The Hotspurs were the more enterprising team and the final outcome was never in doubt.

Eric Nkwankwo opened the score on nine minutes and the Hotspurs could have doubled their lead soon after but Uchenna Anyanwu’s penalty, awarded for a foul by Peter Buttigieg on Jesmond Xerri, went out of range.

Nadur’s best chance to level matters came seconds from half-time but skipper Anthony Portelli concluded badly from an inviting position.

But, Anyanwu made up for the penalty miss and made sure of victory for the Citizens with two goals scored after the break. Victoria could have added more goals to their tally but, somehow, Nkwankwo, Oliver Farrugia and Marvin Buttigieg lacked precision in front of goal.

In another match, Sannat Lions came back from a goal down to beat lowly Xewkija Tigers 2-1.

Xewkija took a deserved lead on 15 minutes through Christian Bugeja but failed to score more goals despite seeing more of the ball. Then, just before half-time, Xewkija had Christian Bugeja sent off for dissent.

Sannat looked committed to profit from the situation but suffered a similar setback themselves when they had Mario Azzopardi sent off for a double booking.

However, they held the upperhand and on 54 minutes Nikolai Filipov hit home following a melee at Xewkija’s goalmouth.

Four minutes later the comeback was completed when Fernando de Andrade found the opponents’ net after a fine solo move.

Għajnsielem beat Kerċem Ajax 3-2 in a tight clash.

The Blacks had an encouraging start and opened the score through Thiago Dos Santos’s free-kick on 10 minutes.

Kerċem levelled quickly with a header by Milos Stojanovic but after wasting a couple of sitters it was Għajnsielem who took command and regained the lead on 55 minutes through Errol Grima.

Jean Paul Mizzi, however, equalised for Kerċem 20 minutes from time but their joy was short-lived as Dos Santos scored the decisive goal with a header a minute later.

Division Two

In the only match from Division Two last weekend, St Lawrence Spurs confirmed their excellent start to the campaign with a 3-0 win over Qala St Joseph.

St Lawrence reserved their best for the second half to retain their top placing. Jonathan Micallef put the Spurs in the lead soon after the restart and Jonathan Bajada committed an own goal midway through the second half.

Gothard Conti sealed the issue with a third goal late on.