Għajnsielem maintained their impressive start to the season with a comfortable 3-0 win over SK Victoria Wanderers as Kerċem Ajax also made it two wins in a row by beating Victoria Hotspurs 2-0.
Champions Għajnsielem had two early efforts hitting the Wanderers’ goal-frame but they opened the score on 30 minutes thanks to a fine Raphael Kooh Sohna header.
The Wanderers were erratic at the back and the Blacks profited from their opponents’ hesitant play by adding two more goals to their tally through John Camilleri and Kooh Sohna who beat the keeper with a lob late on.
Kerċem held territorial sup-remacy for most of the first half against the Hotspurs.
They opened the score early on following an Ognejen Rolovic goal and they could have doubled their lead when the referee awarded them a penalty but Trayo Grozev saw his spot-kick ably saved by keeper Adrian Parnis.
The Bulgarian striker made up for the penalty upset before half-time, however, when beating Parnis with a rasping grounder after a fine solo move.
Victoria increased their efforts after the break in an attempt to get back into the match but Kerċem keeper Franklin Vella was always on the right spot to keep his net intact, denying the Citizens from goal on more than one occasion.
Victoria also had a ‘goal’ by substitute Michael Bezzina disallowed for an infringement.
Meanwhile, Xewkija Tigers recovered from the loss to Għajnsielem in their previous outing and chalked up their first win in the league after beating Nadur Youngsters 3-0.
Daniel Bogdanovic ran clear to open the score on four minutes and, despite Nadur lifting their game by several notches, the Tigers scored two other goals after the break, through Thiago Melo Dos Santos, to make sure of the points.
Oratory Youths also earned their first victory of the season after a 1-0 win over Xagħra United, now the only team without points in the league.
Oratory’s Borja Polo Longarela saw his effort smack against the woodwork and the same fate befell Daniel Sowatey, of Xagħra, in the opening half.
Oratory scored the goal that decided the issue before the half-time break when Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos had the better of the Blues’ keeper.
Division Two
Għarb Rangers confirmed their ambitions to be among the promotion contenders this season with a 3-1 win over ten-man Munxar Falcons.
Munxar scored first from an Alex Simoncic free-kick on 20 minutes. However they were reduced to ten players soon after the restart when Paul Said was sent off for a second yellow card.
Għarb seized the initiative and turned the result in their favour with goals from Justin Azzopardi (54), Dylan Bellotti (60) and Saviour Fidelis (90).
In another match from the Division Two championship, Sannat Lions and Qala Saints shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Sannat broke the deadlock on 52 minutes through Ajibade Adesina and they got more wind in their sails when the Saints had Marlon Mamo sent off for a double booking with more than 20 minutes remaining.
But Qala produced a remarkable comeback and saved the match with a John Rapa equaliser eight minutes from time.