First victories for St Patrick, Naxxar

Birżebbuġa St Peter’s 0
St Patrick 1

A goal by Alex Ellul handed St Patrick their first victory of the season in a game where Birżebbuġa were left to rue a hatful of missed chances.

The Saints were an improved lot after the break, also benefiting from the red card to Birżebbuġa goalkeeper Ivan Casha, to preserve their slim lead.

Joe Gerada’s Birżebbuġa could have taken the lead after nine minutes when a Ronnie Celeste shot almost deceived keeper Joshua Galea who tipped the ball over.

St Patrick had a Blendi Gockaj grounder stopped by Casha but it was the seasiders who continued to run the show.

On 27 minutes, a Franstijek Schneider drive was stopped by Galea who did well soon after to stop a goalbound header from the same player.

Birżebbuġa were again close on 32 minutes when a Kenneth Spiteri header was cleared off the line by Jurgen Farrugia and then it was the post that saved Robert Cassar’s side when Spiteri’s free-kick brushed the bar.

The Saints could not have hoped for a better start to the second half as they took the lead almost from kick-off. Latching on to Ilyad Scicluna’s pass, Ellul beat Casha with a powerful drive.

Birżebbuġa surged into attack. On one occasion, a Matthew Sciortino delivery found Dennis Baldacchino whose effort was blocked. Schneider was first to the loose ball but hit badly.

Birżebbuġa’s dominance lasted until the 79th minute when referee Paul Caruana dismissed Casha for dissent. The Saints had to deploy defender Mark Pullicino in goal as they had already effected all three substitutions.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, D. Milovic, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, L. Grima (D. Baldacchino), M. Mifsud, M. Sciortino (K. Muscat), B. Onuta (B. Marev), R. Celeste.

St Patrick: J. Galea, E. Grech, B. Engoudou, M. Vella, A. Ellul (R. Vella), A. Cachia, B. Gockaj (S. Agius), S. Zerafa, J. Farrugia, I. Scicluna (M. Xerri), S. Dimech.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Man of the match: Bleni Gockaj (St Patrick).

Żejtun Corinthians 0
Naxxar Lions 1

Naxxar Lions also registered their first win of the season yesterday, edging Żejtun Corinthians 1-0 to dent their rivals’ promotion aspirations.

This clash attracted a sizeable crowd as it pitted together two adversaries whose rivalry stemmed mainly from last season’s campaign in Division Two.

Żejtun had keeper Ranier Farrugia in fine form but his contribution alone was not enough for them to avoid defeat as they also had Nikolay Filipov sent off.

It was Naxxar who started the game on the offensive, going close through shots from Hallison de Lima Sequeira and Edilson Fiori dos Santos.

But play was concentrated mostly in midfield with little goalmouth action.

Just before the break Żejtun could have taken the lead but Kenneth Abela hit just wide after a good move by Gers Delia.

Two minutes into the second half, John Debono tried his luck with the shot taking a deflection off Charlo Magro who nearly deceived Farrugia in goal. Boris Odwong then beat the offside trap but his shot was blocked by the Żejtun keeper.

The Lions continued to play the better football. Darren Falzon was unlucky to see his shot smack against the bar but 16 minutes from time Odwong flashed in from nowhere to slot the ball home past a static Corinthians defence.

A minute later Żejtun suffered another blow when they had Filipov sent off for a second yellow card.

Despite their numerical handi-cap the Corinthians went all out in search of an equaliser but Edward Azzopardi’s shot sailed over the bar and a Matthew Borg header was cleared over the line by Lydon Micallef.

Winston Muscat’s Naxxar almost sealed the issue in stoppage time but the unmarked Mattia Del Negro saw his effort stopped in style by Farrugia.

Żejtun: R. Farrugia, K. Vassallo (V. Camilleri), M. Borg, C. Magro, E. Azzopardi, J. Abela, R. Cauchi (L. Micallef), N. Filipov, K. Ganchev (J. Cachia), G. Delia, K. Abela.

Naxxar: L.J. Spiteri, V. Bellia, J. Debono, D. Falzon, A. Farrugia, R. Schembri, L. Micallef, A. Attard, H. de Lima Siqueira (M. Del Negro), E. Fiori Dos Santos, B. Odwong.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Ranier Farrugia (Żejtun Corinthians).