Fgura Utd 0
Melita 2

Melita took a decisive step towards securing a promotion play-off when they had the better of direct rivals Fgura United yesterday.

The Amateurs fully deserved their win as despite failing to set any houses on fire they were the sharper side against a Fgura side who had Jonathan Bugeja dismissed on 68 minutes.

It was Melita who threatened first in the opening minute when Nigel Rizzo’s grounder from just inside the area just missed the target.

Fgura responded on seven minutes when Abeeb Williams’s low drive was saved by Philip Schranz.

Melita forged ahead on 11 minutes when Alan Borg Olivier burst clear and hit a firm drive past goalkeeper Ryan Marmara.

On 39 minutes Alinho was first to a Mennini Righini corner but his header was saved by Marmara.

Fgura came close to level the score in stoppage time when Iro Curmi’s drive finished inches wide.

On the restart, Fgura came close when Williams turned past two defenders but his effort flashed wide.

Fgura suffered a severe blow on 68 minutes when Bugeja was sent off after committing a second bookable offence.

A minute into injury time Melita should have doubled the score when Mennini Righini crossed perfectly for substitute Kane Micallef who in front of goal was foiled by a magnificent interception by the Fgura custodian.

A minute into stoppage time, Micallef was foiled by Fgura goalkeeper Mercieca.

But the Amateurs made it 2-0 on 93 minutes when substitute Antoine Attard moved past his marker but was brought down by Marmara.

Gribbon duly converted from the spot to seal his team’s victory.

Fgura: R. Mercieca, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J.M. Ruiz Perez, A. Galea, J. Bugeja, I. Curmi, J. Farrugia, A. Farrugia (J. Emeka), P. Chircop (C.Vella), A. Williams.

Melita: P. Schranz, R. Alinho, G. Gribbon, I. Tufegdzic, L. Bianco, M. Fenech, J.P. Attard (L. Mifsud), F. Mennini Righini, N. Rizzo (A. Attard), A. Borg Olivier, K. Coleiro (K. Micallef).

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Man of the match: Federico Mennini Righini (Melita).

Birżebbuġa SP 0
Gżira United 1

Gżira United kept alive their hopes of finishing third in the standings after a hard-fought victory over already-relegated Birżebbuġa.

Former Żebbuġ Rangers striker John Nwoba netted the all-important goal in the first half that put the Maroons in fourth place, just two adrift of Melita.

The match was devoid of any scoring chances for much o f the first half with Nwoba having a goal annulled for offside.

Birżebbuġa threatened on 28 minutes when Mifsud saved with difficulty a Rio Micallef drive.

The Saints remained the better side and on the half hour Edison Luiz Bonati was denied by goalkeeper Leighton Mifsud.

But it was Gżira who forged ahead on 35 minutes when Gabriel Aquilina set up Nwoba who was completely unmarked and headed past Andrea Boatto.

Gżira came close early in the second half with a looping Vukovic header following a Dalli corner and on 51 minutes Aquilina tested Boatto with a fierce drive from the edge of the area.

Birżebbuġa responded on 67 minutes when from a Santoiemma free-kick the ball came off the bar.

Six minutes from time Birżeb-buġa were again unlucky when a Santoiemma drive was again kept out by the bar.

Birżebbuġa: A. Boatto, J. Xerri, J. Briffa, G. Camilleri, R. Micallef, K. Muscat, N. Clerico (E. L. Bonati), A. Ewurun (L. Santoiemma), G. Caruana, L. Camilleri, S. Eboh (J.C. Cassar).

Gżira: L. Mifsud, J. Ani (P. Dandolo), D. Scerri, J. Camilleri, D. Vukovic, M. Avila Perez, I. Meli (F. Macchieri), J. Pace, G. Aquilina, J. Nwoba, R. Dalli (L. Camilleri).

Referee: Etienne Mangion.

Man of the match: Gabriel Aquilina (Gżira).

Standings