Gżira regain top spot

Gozo FC 0
Gżira United 3

Gżira United eased past bottom-placed Gozo FC to return to the top of the table and further underline their status as one of the favourites for promotion.

The Gozitans created some good scoring opportunities early on through Jason Portelli, John Camilleri and Saviour Attard.

However, it was Gżira who broke the stalemate on 19 minutes when Attard deflected the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear Malcolm Sultana's free-kick.

The Maroons went close again on 32 minutes but Alessandro Pirrone's lob came off the bar. Then, a minute later, Pirrone was floored in the area by Gozo keeper Steve Sultana and Keith Bonello hit home from the penalty spot.

Gżira made sure of the three points on 61 minutes when Keith Bonello scored with a low shot to put his team 3-0 up.

Gozo could have scored a consolation goal in the 78th minute but efforts from John Camilleri were blocked by the Gżira goalkeeper.

Gozo FC: S. Sultana, J. Buttigieg, P. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, R. Grima (S.F. Bajada), S. Attard, J. Portelli, R. Grech (P. Attard), S. Muscat, M. Mifsud, J. Camilleri (M. Bezzina).

Gżira: K. Camilleri, A. White, H. Gatt Bonello, J. Tabone, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Felice, K. Bonello, T. Micallef, A. Pirrone (N. Corito), M. Sultana, S. Gatt.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Senglea Athletic 3
Mellieħa 2

Senglea climbed out of the relegation zone after Bjorn Dalli scored a hat-trick to lead his team to a 3-2 win over Mellieħa.

The match was balanced early on with Senglea going close through Howard Hughes and Darren Grech. At the other end, Mellieħa's William Borg had a firm shot saved by Luca Bugeja.

It was Senglea who drew first blood on 17 minutes when Timothy Thomas found Dalli whose grounder hit the back of the net.

Thomas almost made it 2-0 on 27 minutes but his header was somehow kept out by Gauci.

Mellieħa came close to an equaliser midway through the half but Reuben Vella and Ibrahim Tarek missed the target from a favourable position.

On 36 minutes, Senglea doubled their lead when Dalli shot past Gauci from close range.

Mellieħa pulled a goal back a minute from the break when Rio Micallef headed home from a Philip Camilleri cross.

But in first-half stoppage time, Senglea restored their two-goal lead, Dalli pouncing on a mistake by the Mellieħa keeper to complete his hat-trick.

After the break, Borg's header was saved by Bugeja while Tarek's shot hit the post.

Mellieħa's pressure finally paid off on 73 minutes when Vella was fouled in the area and a penalty was awarded. Borg converted from the spot to make it 3-2.

Seven minutes from time, Senglea were reduced to 10 men after substitute Jeremy Gatt was sent off for a second booking. Despite the numerical handicap, Senglea held on to their victory.

Senglea: L. Bugeja, E. Azzopardi, D. Cosaitis, S. Cassar, B. Zerafa (J. Abela), H. Hughes, A. Sciortino, D. Gatt, D. Grech (J. Gatt), B. Dalli (G. Brincat), T. Thomas.

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

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Birżebbuġa St Peter's 2
St Andrew's 2

St Andrew's maintained their unbeaten record in the league after sharing the spoils with Birżebbuġa St Peter's.

Birżebbuġa took the lead after just three minutes thanks to an own goal by Ben Diacono. He headed Carlos Camenzuli's cross past his own goalkeeper.

St Andrew's soon responded and Patrick Briscoe White's cross-shot was saved with difficulty by goalkeeper Gabriel Mansueto. On 25 minutes, William Camilleri's header was stopped by the Birżebbuġa keeper.

St Andrew's kept pushing forward and finally drew level with a strong shot by Michael Valenzia.

Three minutes into the second half, St Andrew's took the lead through Michael Grima but Birżebbuġa soon restored equilibrium when Ronnie Celeste nodded past Gauci from a Robert Adami corner.

On the hour, Mansueto did well to keep out Kurt Coleiro's close-range shot while at the other end Adami's free-kick was saved by Gauci.

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

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

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Lija Athletic 3

Lija Athletic had to fight hard before dismissing the challenge of a battling Żebbuġ Rangers side who produced their best performance of the season.

Lija are now just three points behind leaders Gżira while Żebbuġ remain in the red zone.

Lija made a bright start but it was Żebbuġ who struck first after 15 minutes when Mark Deguara beat Bonnici with a rasping drive.

Lija replied on 23 minutes when Keith Darmanin's free-kick was turned onto the post by goalkeeper Pace with the ball finishing into the back of the net but the 'goal' was disallowed for a foul on the Żebbuġ keeper.

At the other end, Deguara's lob just missed the target while Marlon Vella's volley came off the bar.

Nine minutes from half-time, Lija wasted a clear opportunity through Matthew Borg while Beppe Antignolo's effort was blocked by Pace.

Lija deservedly drew level two minutes before the break with a long-range shot from Darmanin.

The match remained well-contested after half-time with Lija going close on 51 minutes when Luka Desira Buttigieg saw his close-range shot saved by Pace.

On 72 minutes, Lija won a free-kick, which was taken by Darmanin, and Martin Camilleri was on hand to finish off from close range to put his team ahead.

Seconds later, Lija substitute Antoine Sacco blasted just wide when all alone in front of goal.

Lija sealed the issue in time added on when Andre Scicluna beat Pace with a low shot.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, J. Cilia, G. Saliba, E. Calleja (M. Ciantar), R. Ellul, J. Saliba, M. Cilia (G. Frendo), S. Calleja, A. Lagana, M. Vella, M. Deguara.

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

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Għargħur 0
Żurrieq 0

Għargħur obtained their fourth point of the season after their match against Żurrieq ended goalless.

Għargħur held the initiative for much of the first half. After 15 minutes, they were denied by Julian Azzopardi who saved a free-kick from Karl Vella Petroni. On 24 minutes, a Shawn Vella cross-shot sailed over the bar.

Six minutes before the break, Żurrieq created a good opportunity but Clive Shumba's shot was too weak to trouble Mark Aquilina.

In first-half stoppage time, Għargħur suffered a blow when defender Borg was sent off for retaliation.

On the resumption, Żurrieq came more into the picture and on 54 minutes, striker Oluseyi Ogun missed an open scoring opportunity.

Għargħur had a shot by Vella going just over and on another occasion Vella hit wide with only Azzopardi to beat.

Żurrieq threatened again when Shumba's shot was pushed away by Aquilina while Darren Bellizzi headed just wide from a Johan Briffa corner as the stalemate prevailed.

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

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

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.