Senglea Athletic 2
Pieta Hotspurs 1

Promotion favourites Senglea Athletic, who were held to a draw in their previous league match by Żebbuġ Rangers, returned to winning ways at the Tedesco Stadium, yesterday, as Austin Obaje Smith scored both their goals in a hard-earned 2-1 win over Pieta Hotspurs.

For the Hotspurs, this was their second defeat on the trot as they continue to lose contact with the top teams and the fourth spot which means a play-off for promotion at the end of the season.

Juninho Carbal almost broke the deadlock early on but his shot whizzed past the post as Pieta had a Gabriel Mensah effort from 30 metres out landing just over the opponents’ crossbar.

Senglea forged ahead midway through the half thanks to Obaje Smith as he sped past a couple of  defenders before finding the net with a shot from an angle.

Carbal was then foiled at the last moment by the Pieta defence as the team from Cottonera held the initiative. Cabral had another chance but he flicked just wide from close range.

Pieta never gave up hope though and a minute before the break they equalised when Clive Gauci pounced on a loose ball to hit home from the edge of the box.

The second half was a different story altogether as chances were few and far in between.

Pieta looked more cautious in their approach with Senglea finding all ways to Miguel Montfort’s goal blocked.

But 13 minutes from time Obaje Smith was on the right spot from a Dalli corner to score and put his team back in front.

Pieta’s reaction was poor as Senglea held on for three useful points to go second in the table, one point behind leaders Naxxar.

Senglea: J. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, R. Tanti, J. Pace, K. Tanti, M. Del Negro, C. Cassar (R. Dalli), P. Sammut (D. Xuereb), A. Obaje Smith, J. Carbal, M. De Sousa Dias (P. Doffo).

Pieta: M. Montfort, K. Micallef, C. Degabriele (Y. Dimitrov), N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, C. Gauci (J. Busuttil), G. Mensah (C. Stewart), J.M. Ruiz Perez, C. Grech, I. Jalo, J. Scicluna.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Best player: Juninho Carbal (Senglea Athletic).

Summaries

Rabat Ajax 0
Melita 1

Rabat: S. Mintoff, N. Caruana, L. Cauchi (T. Ouisman), S. Gauci, W. Borg (G. Bugeja), B. Micallef, A. Smeir, N. Attard, D. Falzon, K. Muscat, D. Azzopardi.

Melita: N. Grima, M. Cachia, A. Mizzi, R. Parrado (M. Groves), K. Pace, M. Fenech, E. Cornago,  J.P. Attard (J. Abela), A. Xuereb, A. Borg Olivier (T. Singleton), N. Bradshaw.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

Scorer: Singleton 90.

Missed penalty: Smeir (RA) 27.

Best player: Nicholas Grima (Melita).

Għargħur        0
Naxxar Lions   2

Għargħur: Z. Valletta, K. Conti (D. Sciberras), K. Fedele, J. Azzopardi, I. Chircop (M. Spiteri), L. Busuttil, J.S. Sousa Martins Da Silva (C. Gie), L. Galea, W.Barbosa, J. Briffa, E. Delima
Nicolau.

Naxxar Lions: O. Borg, A. Buhagiar, N. Spiteri, D. Bonnici (John Debono), R. Cassar, R. Grech, M. Fenech, S. Guevara Munoz (J. Ellul), Juergen Debono, A. Lubos, Y. Messias (U. Jovenal).

Scorers: Messias 12; Juergen Debono 63.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Best player: Duane Bonnici (Naxxar Lions).