Mellieħa 4
San Ġwann 0

Mellieha went two points clear at the top of the Division Two standings after they cruised past lowly San Ġwann on Monday.

San Ġwann almost drew first blood on six minutes when Shaun Vella’s shot hit the bar.

However, it was the northerners who took the lead on 21 minutes when San Ġwann defender Miguel Francica inadvertently deviated the ball into his own net following a Fabiano Bassi shot.

The Saints tried to respond and twice went close to an equaliser through Joseph Chidi and Marco Mercieca. However, on 37 minutes, Bassi rounded the San Ġwann goalkeeper to double Mellieħa’s lead.

Mellieħa added a third goal on 68 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Bassi was brought down in the area by Alan Borg. The Brazilian converted the ensuing penalty.

San Ġwann pushed forward in search of a consolation goal but it was Mellieħa who netted a fourth, scored by Joseph Vella.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Vella, A. Portelli, L. Cauchi, I. Sammut (D. Vella), K. Gauci, P. Camilleri (K. Simiana), J. Vella, C. Muchmore (R. Filipov), F. Bassi, N. Filipov.

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, K. Vella (M. Busuttil), F. Cauchi, M. Mercieca, M. Francica, M. Caruana, S. Vella, L. Gomes (K. Brincat), J. Chidi, A. Borg, C. Cacciattolo.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Gżira United 4
Mġarr United 0

Gżira United registered their second successive win when they eased past bottom side Mġarr. Striker Andrew Scerri was the catalyst behind the Maroons’ victory after netting a hat-trick.

Mġarr threatened early on through Voko Martinovic and James Borg.

Gżira grew in stature and took the lead on the half hour when Attard lobbed the ball over Carbonaro.

On 44 minutes, Gżira increased their lead when Scerri fired the ball home after Attard’s shot was partially blocked by Carbonaro.

After the interval, Gżira kept up the initiative and on 57 minutes Yanis Tonna saw his shot hit the upright. That was just a temporary reprieve for Mġarr as a minute later Scerri made it 3-0 in a swift break.

Scerri completed his hat-trick on 74 minutes to seal the points for the Maroons.

Gżira: K. Gerada, C. Giordemaina, T. Micallef (L. Cilia), C. Sciberras, N. Gatt Coleiro, M. Cocks, K. Bonello (D. Vella), J. Felice, R. Brincat (Y. Tonna), A. Scerri, R. Attard.

Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, W. Buttigieg, W. Camilleri, J. Ebejer, C. Sant, J. Borg, I. Bilocca (J. Said), C. Tabone, V. Martinovic, C. Abela (V. Licari), I. Cutajar (I. Cutajar).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

St Patrick 3
Żebbuġ Rangers 0

This was another fine display by St Patrick who saw more of the ball at the expense of a Żebbuġ Rangers team unable to keep up with their opponents’ fine play.

The Saints took the lead on 10 minutes, through David Mamo, and never looked back after that goal.

Rangers tried to get back into the match but their hopes were dashed soon after the restart when Anthony Portelli made it 2-0 after finding space inside the opponents’ area.

On 56 minutes, the Saints won a corner which was taken by Simon Zerafa and Matthew Xerri’s header was saved by Vella.

Żebbuġ replied with a shot from an angle by Omar Rababah which just missed the target.

Gordon Failla was close on 79 minutes but a minute later the Saints made it 3-0 through Alex Ellul.

St Patrick: J. Galea, I. Scicluna, C. Farrugia, S. Dimech, D. Mamo (K. Micallef), A. Portelli (J. Farrugia), S. Zerafa, M. Xerri, D. Gauci, A. Ellul (D. Pace), G. Failla.

Żebbuġ: J. Vella, K. Xuereb, V. Fiteni, E. Calleja (B. Chetcuti), G. Saliba, C. Caruana, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, J. Agius, M. Deguara (O. Rababah), G. Scerri (E. Cachia).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Naxxar Lions 4
Birżebbuġa St Peter’s 1

Naxxar produced one of their best performances this season to recover from the upset to St Patrick with a convincing win over Birżebbuġa who had goalkeeper Gabriel Mansueto sent off in stoppage time.

The Lions did most of the attacking throughout the first half but had to wait until the 55th minute to open the score through Gilbert Camilleri.

The Seasiders’ reaction never came and Darren Falzon, put through by Andre Rocha da Silva, made it 2-0 on 66 minutes before Da Silva himself added another goal for Naxxar six minutes later.

The Saints reduced the arrears through Matthew Borg on 75 minutes when he headed in from a free-kick taken by Paul Camilleri.

Naxxar held control though and made sure of victory late on when Da Silva was floored by Mansueto inside the Birżebbuġa box.

The keeper was shown a straight red card and from the penalty spot Falzon beat stand-in Paul Camilleri who had to assume the keeper’s role since his side had already made all three substitutions.

Naxxar: B. Attard, K. Fenech, K. Drago, G. Camilleri, J. Zammit (M. Del Negro), A. Rocha da Silva, D. Falzon, V. Bellia, D. Cauchi, A. Fenech, G. Magri (A. Farrugia).

Birżebbuġa: B. Mansueto, C. Formosa, P. Camilleri, M. Ellul, N. Galea, N. Tabone (B. Farrugia), A. Florin, M. Borg, C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste (K. Muscat), D. Grech (F. Peplow).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Senglea Athletic 1
Żejtun Corinthians 2

Żejtun beat Senglea in a tight match to sustain their promotion charge as the Cottonera side succumbed to a second successive defeat.

It only took Żejtun four minutes to open the score when Jean Paul Abela was tripped inside the Senglea box and Silvio Sciberras made no mistake from the penalty.

The Corinthians had other good chances to score again, through Adrian Carabott and Heathcliffe Schembri, but were shocked on 37 minutes when Timmy Thomas made it one-all.

Żejtun were stunned but soon got back into gear and after a Carmel Formosa chance was lost, Edward Azzopardi beat George Attard from a distant free-kick two minutes before the break.

Senglea were the more adventurous side after the break. An Alan Spiteri shot was blocked by the Żejtun rearguard.

The Corinthians were operating on quick breaks and Formosa should have done better when in a good position in front of goal.

Senglea suffered a blow 10 minutes from time when Gareth Magri was sent off for a second caution, leaving Żejtun in control for the rest of the match.

Senglea: G. Attard, G. Magri, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, S. Aquilina, R. Adami, G. Tanti, A. Cakiqi, A. Spiteri (Ty. Thomas), R. Thomas, R. Severino (K. Galea).

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

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Żurrieq 0
Rabat Ajax 4

Rabat dominated this match as the scoreline clearly indicates leaving Żurrieq languishing at the bottom end of the standings.

Justin Felice finished off a good move by Adam Smeir on 17 minutes to put the Magpies in front and seven minutes later Basilimeka Onuta made it 2-0.

Felice went close on two other occasions to add more goals to Rabat’s tally and just before the break Onuta was on the right spot to score from a loose ball.

There was only one team in it after the interval but Rabat only managed one other goal, through Felice on 76 minutes, as they cantered home for a deserved victory to sustain their promotion aspirations.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, D. Bonnici (D. Darmanin), A. Barbara, N. Abdilla, J. Lia, Joh. Briffa, Jos. Briffa, C. Agius (O. Grech), M. Genuis, R. Vardaro (S. Sammut), N. Zammit.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, Y. Camilleri, J. Felice, A. Smeir (R. Micallef), W. Borg (C. Schembri), E. Muscat, R. Micallef, D. Azzopardi, B. Onuta (A. Mifsud).

Referee: Mario Apap.