Coleiro's brace lifts St Andrews, Senglea gain first victory

St Andrews 2
Gozo FC 1

St Andrews emerged victorious from a difficult match against Gozo thanks to a brace from their prolific striker Kurt Coleiro. Victory put Wayne Attard's team back on top, one point ahead of Gżira United who have a game in hand.

Michael Calleja missed an easy opportunity for the Saints after just eight minutes. Then, a diagonal shot by Nicky Vella Petroni was saved by Steve Sultana with the Gozitans going close through Jeffrey Meilaq.

The Saints continued to press forward. Coleiro was denied by Sultana before wasting another clear opportunity in the 27th minute.

Ten minutes from half-time, Jonathan Bugeja's header hit the post but two minutes later the Saints forged ahead, Coleiro heading home after Sultana had partially saved Vella Petroni's shot.

Two minutes after the restart, St Andrews doubled their lead when Coleiro fired home from close range. In the 50th minute, the Gozitans narrowed the deficit when John Camillieri concluded a personal move with a low shot.

Gozo FC now intensified their pressure but they were twice denied by Reuben Gauci from attempts by Charles Hili. On another occasion Camilleri concluded wide and two minutes past the hour, St Andrews goalkeeper Gauci did well to avoid an own goal by team-mate Jonathan Bugeja.

Despite Gozo's pressure, it was St Andrews who came close to a third goal in the dying moments but Coleiro's overhead kick flew over the bar.

St Andrews: R. Gauci, P. Briscoe White, J. Bugeja, N. Chetcuti, B. Diacono, M. Valenzia (K. Galea), M. Calleja, M. Ellul, A. Debono (W. Camilleri), N. Vella Petroni, K. Coleiro.

Gozo: S. Sultana, P.P. Buttigieg, P. Camilleri (M. Formosa), C. Hili (C. Bugeja), J. Camilleri, A. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, R. Grech (O. Farrugia), J. Portelli, J. Meilaq, S. Attard.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Żurrieq 0
Rabat Ajax 0

This was a balanced match with both teams creating several scoring opportunities but the defenders earned the plaudits for keeping the strikers at bay as the game ended goalless.

Żurrieq showed the better football in the opening period.

Daniel Zammit had a shot cleared off the line by a Rabat defender midway though the first half.

Five minutes before the break, Żurrieq keeper Julian Azzopardi brought off an excellent save to deny Adam Wingfield.

Rabat dictated matters after the change of ends. Ten minutes into the second half, they were unlucky when an Adam Smeir header bounced off the crossbar.

On 64 minutes, the Żurrieq keeper charged out of his goal to deny the advancing Darren Galea.

Six minutes later, Zammit broke free in a swift counter-attack but his final shot flashed past the upright.

Rabat had the last scoring chance five minutes from time but Jason Cassar's low shot was blocked by the Żurrieq keeper.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, K. Sacco, C. Gatt, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, D. Bonnici, J. Saliba, O. Ogun (M. Spiteri), D. Zammit, J. Briffa (S. Azzopardi), C. Farrugia (C. Shumba).

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, A. Mifsud, A. Zahra (E. Muscat), A. Smeir, D. Galea, D. Falzon, A. Wingfield, C. Tonna (J. Cassar), D. Azzopardi.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Senglea Athletic 1
Sta Venera Lightnings 0

A first-half goal by Bjorn Dalli was enough for George Faure's Senglea Athletic to clinch their first win of the season.

Sta Venera, who gave a debut to former Balzan striker Alistair Camilleri, dominated possession but they lacked bite in front of goal.

Glen Micallef and Nenad Veselji went close for Sta Venera in the early stages.

On 15 minutes, Senglea goalkeeper George Attard rushed out to block Camilleri's run and four minutes later, George Falzon headed just wide from a Micallef free-kick.

The Yellow-Reds scored what proved to be the winning goal on 26 minutes when Dalli headed the ball past Azzopardi.

Sta Venera hit back immediately and a Stefan Farrugia shot ended just over.

Dalli came close to a second goal just before the interval but was thwarted by a fine save from the Sta Venera keeper. Falzon's fierce drive for Sta Venera came off the upright.

After the change of ends, the Lightnings piled up the pressure with Falzon firing just over. Veselji's rising shot just missed the target.

In a swift Senglea break, Dalli tested Azzopardi with a close-range effort. Sta Venera's final efforts produced a Farrugia free-kick that was saved by Attard while Camilleri had an effort cleared off the line.

Senglea: G. Attard, E. Azzopardi, S. Cassar, D. Cosaitis, B. Zerafa (J. Abela), H. Hughes, A. Sciortino, D. Grech, D. Gatt (O. Ellul), N. Abela (D. Tonna), B. Dalli.

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, D. Zuccarò, M. Muscat, G. Micallef (A. Ellul), I. Zammit, N. Veselji (Y.M. Law), S. Farrugia, R. Borg (R. Carbonaro), G. Magri, A. Camilleri, G. Falzon.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Żebbuġ Rangers 3
Għargħur 2

Żebbuġ Rangers were made to fight hard to claim the three points at the expense of bottom team Għargħur.

Għargħur took the lead after just four minutes when Ian Borg's direct free-kick caught Rangers' goalkeeper Brandon Bartolo by surprise.

On 19 minutes, Żebbuġ drew level through an angled shot by Mark Deguara after a Joe Mercieca free-kick had not been cleared by the Għargħur defence.

A minute later, Għargħur were unlucky when a shot by Shaun Vella hit the upright. Żebbuġ went ahead on 31 minutes thanks to a well-taken free-kick by Stephen Calleja.

Six minutes from the end of the first half, Għargħur's Borg threatened to equalise with another free-kick and Vella hit just wide from close range.

A minute later Żebbuġ increased their lead when Keith Farrugia squared the ball to Johan Cilia who shot low past Aquilina. The Għargħur goalkeeper then denied Deguara with a fine save.

After the interval, Għargħur gained the initiative, going close early on through Vella and David Galea. They reduced the arrears 19 minutes from time through Ryan Debattista following a good move by David Galea.

A minute later, Għargħur should have levelled matters but Borg's close-range shot was cleared off the line by Joe Mercieca. Attempts by Borg and Galea were saved by Bartolo.

On the stroke of time, Għargħur were reduced to 10 men after Daniel Borg committed a second bookable offence. Despite Għargħur's intense pressure, Żebbuġ managed to hold on to their slender lead.

As the players were walking towards the dressing rooms, referee Paul Apap noticed an incident involving Rangers' player Anthony Lagana who was shown the red card as he had already been cautioned during the match.

Żebbuġ: B. Bartolo, J. Mercieca (M. Ciantar), K. Farrugia, J. Saliba, E. Calleja (R. Ellul), J. Cilia, S. Privitelli, A. Lagana, M.A. Deguara, S. Calleja, M. Vella.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea, D. Borg, C. Muscat (G. Galea), M. Mercieca, C. Zammit, E. Lapira, I. Borg, D. Musu (R. Debattista), K. Vella Petroni, S. Vella.

Referee: Paul Apap.