Unbeaten Gżira go top

Mellieħa 1
Gżira United 2

Gżira United surged to the top of the Division Two standings after maintaining their perfect record with a hard-fought win over Mellieħa, who conceded their second defeat of the season.

Mellieħa started brightly and after going close through Philip Camilleri, they took the lead when Reuben Vella fired home from the rebound after his first shot came off the bar.

Gżira looked stunned and Ibrahim Tarek almost doubled Mellieħa's lead but his firm drive was well blocked by Gżira goalkeeper Keith Camilleri.

However, the Maroons managed to draw level on 28 minutes when Richard Attard headed the ball home from a Miguel Borg cross.

Five minutes into the second half Gżira striker Alessandro Pirrone was fouled just outside the area when he was clean through but the referee waved play on.

On 54 minutes, Mellieħa were unlucky when a Tarek header bounced off the post. Two minutes later the Maroons squandered a clear opportunity through Attard.

On 62 minutes, Tarek threatened again for Mellieħa but his free-kick just missed the target.

Mellieħa then missed two opportunities through Rio Micallef and Vella.

The Northerners were made to pay for these misses as three minutes from time, Miguel Mifsud's low cross rolled into the Mellieħa net to the delight of the Gżira fans.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, J. Gauci, A. Portelli (A. Barr), M. Vella, L. Cauchi, K. Gauci, W. Borg, R. Vella, R. Micallef (P. Vella), P. Camilleri, I. Tarek.

Gżira: K. Camilleri, H. Gatt Bonello, A. White, K. Bonello, M. Cocks, J. Felice, A. Pirrone (N. Corito), M. Mifsud (J. Gatt), R. Attard (T. Micallef), N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Tabone.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Għargħur 1
Birżebbuġa St Peter's 4

Birżebbuġa St Peter's scored four goals in the second half to complete a comeback win over bottom-placed Għargħur. For the Saints this was their third win from four matches and they are now third in the standings on nine points.

Għargħur played the better football early on and Shaun Vella headed wide from an inviting position after nine minutes.

However, Vella was on target three minutes later when he fired his team ahead with a firm drive.

Birżebbuġa gradually came more into the picture and a Carlos Camenzuli shot was well kept out by Għargħur keeper Mark Aquilina while Clive Formosa headed just wide from an Elton Bugeja free-kick.

Just before the interval, Noel Tabone headed just over from another Formosa free-kick.

After the change of ends, Birżebbuġa kept up the tempo, drawing level six minutes into the second half when Tabone finished off some fine work by Ronnie Celeste.

Birżebbuġa took the lead on the hour when Camenzuli was fouled in the area by Daniel Borg and from the resultant penalty Celeste put the Saints 2-1 up.

Two minutes later, Għargħur's Alan Spiteri was foiled by Birżebbuġa keeper Mansueto while Vella drove the ball wide in front of a gaping goal.

On 64 minutes Għargħur had defender Jonathan Buttigieg dismissed for dissent. Bir-żebbuġa soon capitalised on their numerical advantage and Eric Saliba made it 3-1 on 74 minutes before Celeste sealed the points with a fourth goal six minutes from time.

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

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia (R. D'Amato), D. Baldacchino, M. Ciappara (M. Ellul), E. Bugeja, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste (K. Muscat), A. Mangion.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.