Żejtun top standings after second victory

Żejtun Corinthians 3
Mġarr United 1

Żejtun notched their second win from as many matches after beating a resilient Mġarr team, still without points.

After just four minutes Mġarr went close through James Borg with a Kenneth Abela header cleared off the goal line at the other end.

On 17 minutes, Żejtun broke Mġarr’s resistance and opened the score through Carmel Formosa from a Silvio Sciberras corner.

Abela was unlucky to see his shot hit the post and on 35 minutes Żejtun increased their lead from a penalty following an infringement by Vosko Martinovic. Sciberras made it 2-0 from the spot.

Mġarr played much better after the break and on 58 minutes Martinovic made up for his mistake in the first half when he pulled one back after an effort by Chris Abela had hit the post.

Mġarr pressed forward but their hopes were dashed 19 minutes from time when Abela scored the Corinthians’ third goal following a good move by Adrian Carabott.

Żejtun: R. Farrugia, E. Azzopardi, J. Cachia (D. Vella), D. Cosaitis, C. Magro, J. Abela, H. Schembri (A. Portelli), S. Sciberras, C. Formosa (R. Cauchi), A. Carabott, K. Abela.

Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, J. Ebejer, W. Buttigieg, J. Said, C. Sant, V. Martinovic, C. Tabone (M. Abela), J. Borg, C. Abela (J.P. Zammit), I. Bilocca (E. Grech), I. Cutajar.

Referee: Mario Apap.

San Ġwann 1
St Patrick 2

Alfred Attard’s St Patrick turned defeat into victory with two second-half goals scored by substitute Randall Cassar in a match involving the two teams that were relegated last season.

Joseph Chidi Achokwu put San Ġwann in front on seven minutes. San Ġwann took the initiative and were also unlucky when a shot by Neil Goodlip on 10 minutes was turned onto the upright by St Patrick keeper Joshua Galea.

Achokwu missed a sitter and St Patrick hit back with two Gordon Failla efforts which were saved with difficulty by keeper Justin Spiteri.

St Patrick looked a determined lot after the break and deservedly drew level on 62 minutes when Cassar hit home after a fine solo move.

St Patrick got the all decisive goal on 90 minutes, Cassar hitting home following a swift counter-break that caught San Ġwann napping.

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, S. Grima, G. Agius, A. Mangion, M. Caruana, M. Caruana, S. Vella, P. Xuereb (D. Micallef, M. Fenech), N. Goodlip, J. Chidi Achokwu, C. Cacciattolo (L .Galea).

St Patrick: J. Galea, M. Petrovic, G. Failla, J. Farrugia (A. Portelli), K. Micallef (M. Xerri) A.Ellul, N. Zerafa (R. Cassar), D. Gauci, C. Farrugia, D. Pace, G. Saliba.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Rabat Ajax 4
Senglea Athletic 0

With this showing, Rabat confirmed they will be among the promotion contenders this season.

They took a deserved lead after just nine minutes following an own-goal by Senglea defender Gareth Magri.

Joseph Caruana almost made it 2-0 but on 25 minutes William Borg was on target after an effort by team-mate Justin Felice had bounced off the woodwork.

Rabat continued to dictate matters freely.

Just before the break, a shot by Felice finished just high but in added time the same Rabat player was more accurate when he concluded some good work by Adam Smeir.

Two minutes after the restart, Felice made it 4-0 and the game was over as a contest.

The Magpies still sustained the pressure with Yessous Camilleri and Smeir seeing their shots stopped by the woodwork.

Nine minutes from time, Senglea defender Erin Azzopardi was sent off.

Rabat: I. Cassar, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, Y. Camilleri, J. Felice (A. Mifsud), A. Zahra (A. Wingfield), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, W. Borg, C. Muscat (E. Muscat), R. Micallef.

Senglea: G. Attard, S. Aquilina, E. Azzopardi, G. Magri (B. Zerafa), J. Cassar (J. Spiteri), G. Tanti, S. Calleja (C. Pickard), R. Adami, A. Spiteri, R. Thomas, R. Severino.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Mellieħa 0
Naxxar Lions 1

Alex Delia’s Naxxar had the better of Mellieħa in a balanced match which became rather rough after the interval and two players were consequently sent off.

Mellieħa keeper Simon Gauci did well to deny David Cauchi and Chris Pace early on and on 25 minutes Daniel Cremona should have done better when in a good position inside the Lions’ box.

Cremona missed another glaring opportunity as the second half got underway and they were made to pay dearly for that as Darren Falzon scored for Naxxar at the other end, the goal proving to be the winner.

Mellieħa protested since one of their players was down injured during the action which led to Falzon’s goal.

On 55 minutes, Mellieħa’s Nikolay Filipov was sent off for a second caution and three minutes later Gilbert Camilleri, of Naxxar, followed suit.

Although Mellieħa pushed forward, they were never really dangerous with Naxxar holding to their lead.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, I. Sammut, A. Portelli, M. Vella (D. Calleja), L. Cauchi, P. Taylor, N. Filipov, R. Filipov, M. Vella (D. Vella), P. Camilleri (K. Simiana), D. Cremona.

Naxxar: B. Attard, J. Agius, K. Fenech (A. Fenech), A. Farrugia, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J. Zammit, D. Falzon (K. Drago), V. Bellia, D. Cauchi, C. Pace (J. Debono), G. Camilleri.

Referee: Andre Arciola.