Swallows, Qormi win

Dingli 5 - Msida 2

Dingli Swallows netted their second win of the season after they eased past Msida St Joseph 5-2 on Sunday.

The Swallows completely dominated this clash between the two teams which were relegated from the Premier League this season. Dylan Zarb put Dingli ahead on the half hour when he unleashed a powerful low drive that gave no chance to Msida keeper Manuel Bartolo.

Four minutes later Andre Rocha Da Silva was floored in the area by Lydon Micallef and the Brazilian made no mistake from the resultant penalty. Dingli added a third goal six minutes into the second half when Da Silva was pushed in the area by Msida substitute Kurt Grech and a penalty was awarded with the defender dismissed by the referee. Joseph Okonkwo made no mistake from the spot. The Swallows added further misery on Msida two minutes later when Okonkwo beat Bartolo with a low drive.

Dingli’s Nigerian striker could have had a hat-trick but he failed to score from the penalty spot as his firm drive was blocked by Bartolo. Msida bridged the gap on 66 minutes when Tyrone Farrugia’s long range drive flew past Dingli keeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

Eight minutes from time, Msida pulled a second goal back when Andrew Formosa’s shot from just outside the area rolled past the diving Jeffrey Farrugia. In stoppage time, Zarb wrapped up Dingli’s win when he tapped the ball home from close in after a Kevin Borg free-kick.

Qormi 3 - Hibs 0

Qormi strengthened their grip on the third place in the Premier league with comfortable win against Hibernians. Jesmond Zerafa's team was rarely troubled as they secured a third win in the championship to dislodge Sliema's grip on third place. The majority of Qormi's attacking threat came from him, with the Nigerian whizzing past 18-year-old Yan Cauchi with ease to provide plenty of ammunition into the box.

The first half was scrappy with Hibernians enjoying the fair share of possession but struggling in the final third. Indeed, they looked like a side who failed to win a point in the last four matches. Hibernians' problems were summed up on the 44th minute, when Effiong took the ball off the toes of Jonathan Pearson and set off on yet another of his dazzling runs before unleashing a low drive behind Muscat.

The odds were against a Hibernians fightback, bearing in mind they have won only one game in the championship pool and their task was made all the more difficult when Effiong doubled Qormi's lead after 54 minutes. He won a 50-50 ball against Jonathan Pearson as he was on hand to send the ball into the far corner of the net.