St Andrews consolidate top spot

St Andrews 2
Gżira United 0

St Andrews chalked up their fifth win in six matches after seeing off nearest rivals Gżira United to strengthen their grip on top spot. For the Maroons, this was their second successive defeat.

The first period was balanced with the Saints going close after 13 minutes when Anatole Debono's drive finished just wide.

Six minutes later Gżira were unlucky when Matthew Cocks's shot came off the crossbar while Neil Gatt Coleiro saw his cross-shot saved by Gauci.

However, it was St Andrews who broke the stalemate seven minutes from the break when Michael Grima's low shot rolled into the back of the net.

Steve Gatt almost equalised for Gżira but his effort was cleared off the line by a Saints defender.

Four minutes into the second half, St Andrews' Michael Ellul swung in a dangerous corner that was saved with difficulty by Camilleri. At the other end, Gatt was denied by Gauci.

However, Gżira's hopes were all but ended on 57 minutes when Debono's angled shot flew past Camilleri.

Thereafter, scoring chances were few and far between but Gżira had two good opportunities to pull one back through Gatt and Cocks who failed to hit the target.

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

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

Referee: Andrea Scriha.

Lija Athletic 0
Birżebbuġa St Peter's 0

This direct clash between two of the leading teams in the second division ended goalless. The point gained saw Lija join Gżira United in second place, four points behind leaders St Andrews.

Lija were the better team in the first half. After nine minutes, a shot by Beppe Antignolo finished just wide.

Birżebbuġa went close through Denis Baldacchino and Carlo Camenzuli with Lija responding on 23 minutes when Martin Camilleri sent a diagonal shot just wide.

Mansueto, the Birżebbuġa goalkeeper, made two difficult saves to deny Daniel Scerri and Keith Darmanin. Just before half-time, Lija striker Matthew Borg's attempt was cleared off the line by Eric Saliba.

After the change of ends, Lija kept up the pressure but the first opportunity fell to the southseasiders but Ronnie Celeste missed.

Lija's Antignolo was twice thwarted by Mansueto and on another occasion, an effort by Mangion forced another goal-line clearance from Saliba.

In the 64th minute, Lija thought they had forged ahead but Borg's effort was disallowed for an offside infringement. Ten minutes from time, Antignolo fired a low shot that finished just wide of the far post.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, M. Mangion, D. Scerri, M. Borg, L. Desira Buttigieg (L. Cilia), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar, B. Antignolo.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, D. Baldacchino, R. Adami (M. Ellul), M. Ciappara, N. Tabone, A. Mangion (F. Peplow), C. Formosa, E. Bugeja, C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Żurrieq 2
Gozo FC 0

Żurrieq atoned for their defeat against Sta Venera Lightnings with a merited win over Gozo. The latter played with 10 men for most of the match after Oliver Farrugia was red-carded in the fourth minute for use of abusive language.

Thirteen minutes from the start of the game had elapsed when Żurrieq took the lead. Daniel Zammit finished a good move by Dino Bonnici.

At the other end, the Gozitans went close through Rodney Buttigieg and Kenneth Mercieca while Żurrieq's Olusey Ogun and Jason Saliba fired wide.

Towards the end of the first half, Żurrieq increased their lead when Bonnici scored with an angled shot following a pass from Zammit.

The Gozitans were the better team in the second half and after just two minutes, a shot by Josef Buttigieg was blocked by Julian Azzopardi.

An effort by Mercieca finished just wide and on 66 minutes, a free-kick by Mario Mifsud was saved by Azzopardi.

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

Gozo: S. Sultana, J. Buttigieg, P. Camilleri, J. Vella, J. Meilaq (C. Sciortino), B. Meilaq, S. Attard (I. Xuereb), R. Grech (M. Mifsud), O. Farrugia, R. Buttigieg, K. Mercieca.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.