Mqabba 1
Vittoriosa Stars 2

Promotion seekers Vittoriosa Stars maintained their push at the top of the standings with a hard-earned win over Mqabba.

The Stars took the lead on eight minutes thanks to a superb Sheldon Grech goal.

Mqabba looked sluggish but went close when Claudio Calleja’s free-kick finished just wide.

Leslie Burke’s side started to grow in confidence and following a Silveira free-kick, which ended wide, Calleja saw his shot blocked by the Stars’ rearguard.

Vittoriosa almost added a second when Luke Vella Critien found Michael Camilleri who ran out of position after dribbling past keeper Brandon Debono.

Vittoriosa, however, did manage to make it 2-0 just before the break. A Liam Gauci cross found Anthony Eviparker on the right spot and he slotted the ball home with ease.

Mqabba reduced the arrears on 56 minutes when Carl Sammut committed an own goal in his effort to clear a cross from the left.

But the Stars closed all avenues to their goal leaving Mqabba very little space where to manoeuvre.

Late on, Mqabba’s Brandon Grech and Camilleri, of Vittoriosa, were both sent off.

Mqabba: B. Debono, A. Cassar (A. Camilleri), M. Bonnici, R. Gomes, C. Micallef, B. Grech, G. Guedes de Freitas, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, D. Da Silva Silveira, L. Scorfna (J. Fenech).

Vittoriosa: J. Mercieca, L. Vella Critien, M. Camilleri, M. Barbara (J. Camilleri), L. Gauci (R. Mifsud), F. Arriagada Mella (G. Sultana), A. Eviparker, M. Buttigieg, C. Sammut, S. Grech, K. Scicluna.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Man of the match: Sheldon Grech (Vittoriosa Stars).