Unbeaten Xewkija seize lead

Xewkija Tigers are the only unbeaten side in the top flight after recording an emphatic 3-0 win over title contenders Xagħra United to go three points clear at the top. In the other Division One match, Nadur Youngsters suffered their first defeat of the season after going down 5-2 to SK Victoria Wanderers.

The main attraction of the fifth day of the championship was the clash between Xewkija and Xagħra as the two sides were looking to take sole leadership. Played in front of a sizeable crowd at the Gozo Stadium, the match was quite entertaining.

Xewkija took an early lead when Rodney Buttigieg fired them ahead after just 10 minutes. Xagħra tried to hit back, going close through Thiago Dos Santos who had two efforts going wide.

The Tigers, who relied mainly on counter-attacks, doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half thanks to a low drive by Chris Camilleri who was released in the area by John Camilleri.

Xagħra kept trying to reopen the issue but they rarely posed danger to Jonathan Xuereb in Xewkija’s goal. The Tigers sealed their win when Elton Vella sent a through-pass to substitute Mark Camilleri who slotted home.

Nadur Youngsters failed to keep in touch with Xewkija as they were trounced by SK Victoria Wanderers who, thanks to this victory, have increased their gap on the teams in the red zone.

Nadur enjoyed the better start, taking a deserved seventh-minute lead through Anthony Portelli.

The Wanderers recovered to even matters on the half-hour mark through Joseph Vella. Four minutes from half-time, the Citizens went ahead thanks to Kenneth Mercieca’s goal but Claudio Antunes equalised for Nadur with an excellent free-kick five minutes into the second half.

A minute later, Victoria goalkeeper Franklin Vella denied Antunes with a spectacular save. Victoria regained the lead on 53 minutes with a close-range header by Vella. They all but secured the three points when Mercieca put them 4-2 in front with another header 14 minutes from time.

Late in the game, the Wanderers increased their advantage. They were awarded a penalty when Nadur goalkeeper Victor Agius floored Edinson Sanchez Estrada after the latter had made a solo run into the box. Agius was sent off and Vella converted from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

Division Two

In the main match from the Melita Division Two League, Oratory Youths maintained their title challenge after a 5-1 annihilation of St Lawrence Spurs.

Joseph Grech opened the scoring after two minutes before Dione Lautier hit a brace (30, 61) to put Oratory’s mind at rest. In the final stages, substitutes Andrea Debrincat (85) and Keith Farrugia (90) added two more goals for Oratory while Steve Scicluna scored a consolation goal for St Lawrence.

In the other match, Munxar Falcons obtained a deserved 2-1 win over Żebbuġ Rovers.

William Cassar put the Falcons ahead on 37 minutes but Sylvan Galea equalised for Żebbuġ just before half-time.

Munxar clinched the three points thanks to Gabriel Sillato’s 61st minute strike.