Żejtun open six-point gap as Mellieħa, Naxxar slip up

Mellieħa 0
Żebbuġ Rangers 3

Żebbug Rangers produced their best performance of the season as they dominated proceedings against promotion hopefuls Mellieħa who were handicapped by the early dismissal of goalkeeper Simon Gauci.

The northerners were reduced to 10 men as early as the eighth minute when Gauci handled the ball outside the area in a bid to block Jeremy Agius’s shot and was sent off. James Abela took his place in goal after replacing Kyle Simiana.

Mellieħa created the first chance after 15 minutes through Daniel Cremona. At the other end, Roderick Spiteri was twice denied by Abela.

The stalemate was broken on 36 minutes when Timmy Thomas scored with a fine strike.

After the change of ends, Żebbuġ remained the better side and Thomas missed a sitter.

In the 55th minute, Agius headed just wide and two minutes later a long-range shot by Gordon Mallia ended just over.

Żebbuġ doubled their lead on 66 minutes with a close-range shot from Bjorn Chetcuti. The wood-work denied the Rangers a third goal on 70 minutes as Agius’s lob hit the upright.

Żebbuġ wrapped up the points a minute later when Thomas headed home a Spiteri cross.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Vella, M. Borg, R. Filipov (F. Bassi), I. Sammut, K. Gauci, N. Filipov, P. Camilleri (M. Vella), K. Simiana (J. Abela), D. Cremona, C. Muchmore.

Żebbuġ: J. Vella, M. Farrugia, J. Mercieca, C. Caruana (M. Deguara), R. Spiteri, J. Agius (C. Cini), H. Doda, G. Mallia, B. Chetcuti (E. Cachia), G. Saliba, T. Thomas.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Żurrieq 1
Żejtun Corinthians 4

Żejtun Corinthians had to fight more than expected to see off an improved Żurrieq side. The league leaders needed three late goals to secure their win and open a six-point lead at the top of the standings.

The first half was short of scoring chances with Żurrieq going close after four minutes through Johan Briffa. Oldi Majtara and Amadeo Mercieca had the best chance for the Corinthians.

It was Żejtun who took the lead on 38 minutes with a long-range shot from Majtara.

Żurrieq drew level on 47 minutes when Karl Sacco fired home from close in after goalkeeper Ranier Farrugia had pushed away Ray Attard’s shot.

On the hour, Żurrieq’s Steve Azzopardi blasted wide from an inviting position.

Ten minutes from time, Żejtun were awarded a penalty for a foul on Adrian Carabott but Majtara’s shot was saved by Reuben Debono.

This was just a temporary reprieve for Żurrieq as four minutes later Charlò Magro restored Żejtun’s lead with a low shot.

The Corinthians pressed home their superiority with two late goals scored by Carmel Formosa (88) and Carabott (90).

Żurrieq: R. Debono, K. Sacco, D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, J. Lia, M. Genuis, Jos. Briffa, Joh. Briffa, R. Attard (C. Sumba), S. Azzopardi (D. Sciberras), A. Camilleri.

Żejtun: R. Farrugia, J. Cachia, H. Schembri, R. Cauchi (E. Azzopardi), C. Magro, V. Camilleri, J. Abela, K. Abela (K. Vassallo), A. Carabott, A. Mercieca (C.Formosa), O. Majtara.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Rabat Ajax 2
Naxxar Lions 0

Rabat Ajax bounced back from their defeat to San Ġwann to complete a double of victories over Naxxar Lions. The Magpies are now second in the standings six points, behind Żejtun Corinthians.

Naxxar pressed forward in the opening stages, going close to taking the lead after 11 minutes but Kevin Fenech’s free-kick was saved by Jonathan Azzopardi.

However, it was Rabat who drew first blood when Justin Felice scored from routine distance following a cross by Adam Smeir.

Rabat were twice thwarted by Julian Azzopardi off a shot by Joseph Caruana and a Christian Muscat free-kick. Josef Tonna almost made it 2-0 for Rabat but his effort was cleared off the line.

After the break, Rabat played the better football. Ryan Micallef hit high from a good position.

On 65 minutes, Naxxar were denied an equaliser by Jonathan Azzopardi who parried away an effort by Adrian Fenech.

Rabat sealed the points on 68 minutes when Joseph Caruana beat Azzopardi with a grounder.

Rabat: Jon. Azzopardi, C. Schembri, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, J. Felice (A. Wingfield), A. Smeir, W. Borg, D. Falzon, C. Muscat, Y. Cauchi (R. Micallef), D. Azzopardi (E. Muscat).

Naxxar: Jul. Azzopardi, J. Agius, K. Fenech, M. Spiteri Gonzi, A. Fenech (D. Farrugia), K. Drago, G. Buys Duarte (K. Farrugia), V. Bellia, D. Falzon, G. Magri (K.Agius), A. Rocha Da Silva.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

St Patrick 1
Senglea Athletics 0

Matthew Xerri’s second-half goal earned St Patrick their ninth win of the season and revived their promotion hopes.

St Patrick were the more attacking side in the first half, going close after only seven minutes through a Gordon Failla free-kick that finished just wide.

The Saints wasted a clear opportunity through Dillon Pace and, on another occasion, an effort by Illyad Scicluna was saved by George Attard. On 32 minutes, Scicluna’s shot came off the crossbar and Attard continued to frustrate St Patrick when saving from Randall Cassar and Failla.

At the start of the second half, Senglea created their first scoring chance, Glen Brincat heading just over following good work by Ricardo Severino.

Gradually, the Saints regained control of the midfield sector and after missing an easy chance through Scicluna, they were twice denied by Attard from shots by Xerri and Glen Barry.

St Patrick forced a breakthrough on 61 minutes when Xerri drove the ball home after the Senglea goalkeeper had partially saved Barry’s strike.

Senglea’s reaction produced a shot by Severino which was saved by Galea but in the closing minutes, the Saints were again frustrated by Attard who stopped attempts from Barry and Jurgen Farrugia.

St Patrick: J. Galea, S. Dimech (J. Farrugia), G. Failla, M. Xerri, G. Barry, I. Scicluna, J. Bugeja (A. Portelli), D. Pace (R. Cassar), R. Vella, D. Gauci, C. Farrugia.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Borg (R. Degiorgio), T. Thomas, R. Tanti, J. Spiteri, S. Aquilina, G. Tanti, A. Spiteri, R. Adami (B. Zerafa), R. Severino, G. Brincat (E. Azzopardi).

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.