Għajnsielem’s Renan Telles (left) sprints past Emanuel Buttigieg. Photo: Anthony Cassar

League leaders Xewkija Tigers continued with their march at the top of the standings but they were made to sweat for the points in a narrow 3-2 win over bottom-placed Xagħra United.

Xagħra shared play with their more-quoted opponents for most of the match and must have felt unlucky at the final whistle to finish empty-handed.

During the early stages, Xagħra created the better moves in attack, mainly through Michael Bezzina who also thought his team should have been awarded a penalty following a challenge on him by Tigers keeper Steve Sultana.

Xewkija, however, lifted their game by a few notches to open a 2-0 lead following goals by Elton Vella (32) and Claudio Frances (61).

Nikola Vitorovic pulled one back for the Blues only for Thiago Melo Dos Santos to re-establish Xewkija’s two-goal lead three minutes later.

Xagħra were not demoralised though. On 80 minutes they shouted penalty a second time following a Sultana block on Victor John Saliba but the referee again saw nothing untoward.

Then, from a corner, Michael Bezzina beat Sultana with a fine overhead kick to set up a tense finale.

Xagħra almost clinched an equaliser in stoppage time but a Gerald Tushe effort was neutralised by Sultana.

Second-placed Nadur Youngsters started their third round commitments with a 3-2 win over Kerċem Ajax to stay six points behind Xewkija.

Nadur opened a 3-0 lead, thanks to Shaun Attard (18), Brandon Said (22) and Milos Stojanovic (67), but Kerċem staged a strong reaction and hit back with goals from Trayo Grozev and a Gustavo Amadio penalty.

Brazilian striker Amadio was close to complete his team’s comeback late on but his grounder ended just wide.

Champions Għajnsielem kept their chances alive with a 4-0 win over Oratory Youths.

Għajnsielem, one point behind Nadur in third place, scored two goals in each half but could have achieved victory with a wider margin as two early attempts by Renan Telles and Emiliano Lattes were stopped by the woodwork.

John Camilleri and Telles gave the Blacks a cushion 2-0 lead before the break. Telles was again on the mark 19 minutes from time and Chris Camilleri rounded the score in added time.

In another match from the top flight, derby rivals SK Victoria Wanderers and Victoria Hotspurs figured in a goalless draw.

This was a nervy encounter and the referee cautioned no fewer than 12 players and ejected three off the field.

The Wanderers had Sam Frank Bajada sent off on 70 minutes and the Hotspurs ended with nine men following red cards to Christian Mercieca (82) and Kevin Farrugia (90).

Division Two

St Lawrence Spurs made sure of the top placing in the standings at the end of the third round after chalking up two successive wins.

Against Qala, the Spurs recovered from an early shock to thrash the league strugglers 5-1 before another comfortable 5-0 win over Żebbuġ Rovers.

Dario Zamora put Qala ahead but Denis Di Maio scored four goals, three of them from penalties, before substitute Charlon Tabone added a fifth ten minutes from time to complete the comeback.

The Spurs’ scorers against Rovers were Mohammed Senussi Telessi (2), Charles Mercieca, Marlon Mamo and Tabone.

Żebbuġ conceded another heavy defeat in the championship following a 4-0 upset to second-placed Għarb Rangers.

Oliver Farrugia opened the score early on and Andrew Ofulue sealed Rangers’ win with a hat-trick. Żebbuġ played most of the encounter with ten men following a red card to Matthion Formosa on 33 minutes.

Meanwhile, Sannat Lions failed to keep the pace with the top two as they suffered an unexpected 4-3 defeat to bottom-placed Munxar.

Sannat led with goals from Sunday Baala (8, 25p) and Ajibade Adesina (74).

Munxar never gave up hope though and after an Oliver Curmi goal (65) had put them back in the reckoning, Michael Mattias Uzor did the rest with a hat-trick (77, 84, 90) to silence the Lions.