Marsascala Mor€ and Marsa-xlokk ASC scored very comfortable victories over Otters Nivea and Ta’ Xbiex Amigos respectively as the Winter League resumed yesterday with two First Division matches.

In the opening match, the southerners were tactically better and physically stronger than their opponents from Gozo, who stayed in the match until midway through the proceedings.

Then Marsascala took over to score ten times in the final sessions, with Edward Meli, Karl Rizzo Naudi and Matthew Pace each netting a hat-trick.

In the following clash, a rejuvenated Marsaxlokk, orchestrated by their erstwhile veteran, Anthony Galea, easily dismissed Ta’ Xbiex to move to second place on three behind Marsascala, with Ta’ Xbiex and Otters sharing the last position with a point apiece.

Although having a short squad of just nine components, Ian Azzopardi’s team took complete control from the second session onwards to send their opponents reeling to a heavy defeat.

Scorewise Marsaxlokk were led by Charles Bugeja and Michele Mifsud, who each scored a poker of goals, followed by left-hander Mark Fenech and Aleandro Mifsud, scorers of a hat-trick each.

Summaries

Otters 5
Marsascala 15

Otters: Z. Sciberras, P. Sciberras, G. Zammit, S. Xerri, M. Dimech, A. Borg, J. Paris 1, D. Scembri, K. Scicluna 1, S. Dimech 1, C. Martin 1, M. Castillo, K. Grima Scott 1.

Marsascala: F. Buhagiar, J. Busuttil, R. Calleja 1, C. Bonello 2, E. Meli 3, L. Grixti 2, K. Rizzo Naudi 3, S. Micallef, G. Desira Buttigieg, D. Cassar 1, M. Pace 3, J. Cremona.

Referees: M. Angileri, R. Spiteri

Marsaxlokk 16
Ta’ Xbiex 7

(3-3, 3-1, 5-1, 5-2)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, P. Micallef 1, A. Galea 1, C. Bugeja 4, M. Fenech 3, M. Mifsud 4, A. Mifsud 3, G. Zammit, M. Scerri.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, L. Ciantar, J. Cauchi, K. Camilleri, M. Asciak 1, S. Aquilina, J. Galea 2, E. Gravina 2, R. Attard 1, O. Zammit 1, J. Micallef.

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, S Licari.