Blacks back in the reckoning

Għajnsielem beat Nadur Youngsters 2-1 last weekend to get back in the reckoning in the title race.

The Blacks are now joint second in the standings, two points behind leaders Victoria Hotspurs, who have a game in hand.

Nadur had a better start and dictated matters for most of the opening half. At first, they failed to convert their supremacy into goals but took the lead on 33 minutes with a Claudio Antunes goal.

However, Għajnsielem levelled matters just before half-time through a low shot by Thiago Dos Santos following a corner action.

The Blacks turned the result in favour on 60 minutes with a fine Fernando Apap header from a free-kick taken by Rodrigo Cariaga.

Għajnsielem were reduced to ten players on 70 minutes when Frank Lee Galea was shown a second yellow card. Six minutes later they also had Kenneth Mercieca sent off along with Nadur's Alex Simoncic.

Nadur tried hard to make the extra man count but the Blacks resisted strongly to preserve their slim, but crucial, advantage. In the other match from the top flight last weekend, Kerċem Ajax beat SK Victoria Wanderers 2-0 to move to a safer mid-table position in the standings and leaving champions Sannat in bottom place.

Kerċem took the lead 16 minutes from time. They were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joel Attard on Milos Stojanovic. Marcos Aurelio Ribeiro made no mistake from the spot.

Ajax sealed the issue with a goal scored by substitute Josef Debrincat in the first minute of stoppage time.

Division Two

Xagħra United took sole leadership following a 1-0 win over Munxar Falcons.

The goal that decided the issue arrived nine minutes from time through a header by Josef Galea.

In another match, Żebbuġ Rovers stunned Oratory Youths with an unexpected 3-1 win.

Rovers opened the score after just four minutes through Sylvan Galea but Dione Lautier equalised for Oratory four minutes later.

Żebbuġ regained the lead on 20 minutes following an own goal by Giovan Grech and Rovers made sure of the points deep into stoppage time with a Steve Xuereb goal.

Nadur Youngsters 1
Antunes 33
Għajnsielem 2
Dos Santos 45; Apap 60

Nadur Youngsters: S. Sultana, J. Meilaq, P. Camilleri, P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, C. Mercieca, S. Attard, C. Hili (M. Portelli), C. Antunes, A. Portelli, K. Russell.

Għajnsielem: J. Grech, F. Apap, R. Cariaga, D. Debattista, G. Cefai, J. Buttigieg, T. Dos Santos, M. Cremona, F.L. Galea, K. Mercieca, B. Meilak.

Red cards: Galea (GĦ) 70; Mercieca (GĦJ) 76; Simoncic (N) 76.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Kerċem Ajax 2
Ribeiro 74 pen; Debrincat 90
SK Victoria W 0

Kerċem Ajax: C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri (J. Mercieca), M. Tabone, D. Sakic, A. Grech, D Mercieca, E. Hussein, M. Mamo, M. Stojanovic, L. Camilleri (J. Debrincat), M.A. Ribeiro.

SK Victoria Wanderers: A. Parnis, W. Akande, L. Mizzi (S. Dimech), J. Attard, J. Refalo, D. Muscat, A. Adesina, I. Adesina, L. Dimech (S. Scicluna), C. Sciortino, M. Cordina.

Referee: Reno Refalo.