Xewkija Tigers bounced back from last week’s unexpected draw against Kerċem Ajax as they eased to a 3-0 win over Oratory Youths to retain a four-point lead at the top ahead of nearest rivals Nadur Youngsters.
Xewkija hit the ground running against Oratory and scored the opener after nine minutes courtesy of Daniel Sakic’s headed goal. However, they struggled to make territorial advantage count and only had that one goal to show at half-time
Oratory showed signs of improvement after the break, creating a couple of scoring opportunities but their hopes were dashed on 77 minutes when Daniel Azzopardi was dismissed for two yellow cards.
Xewkija profited from their numerical advantage as Rodney Buttigieg beat the offside trap to make it 2-0 before he sealed the points with a third three minutes from time.
Nadur kept up the pressure on the leaders when they came from behind to beat SK Victoria Wanderers 3-1.
The Youngsters went close early on when Dewilde Dos Santos’s shot came off the bar. But it was the Wanderers who took the lead just before half-time when Ian Xuereb hit home past goalkeeper Matthew Muscat.
Nadur stormed back into action when play resumed.
Dos Santos scored twice in the space of a minute to put the Youngsters 2-1 in front and the Brazilian completed his hat-trick five minutes from time to make sure of the points for Nadur.
Third-placed Għajnsielem, five points behind Xewkija, also recovered from a goal down to beat Victoria Hotspurs 2-1.
The Hotspurs showed better qualities at first and after Denis Sytnik’s shot came off the bar they seized the lead when Henrique Maciel stabbed the ball home from close range.
Goalmouth action came at both ends of the pitch but it was the Blacks who prevailed at the end of the day following goals by Emiliano Lattes and John Camilleri.
Meanwhile, Kerċem Ajax consolidated the fourth position in the standings thanks to a 5-1 win over lowly Xagħra United.
Gustavo Amadio put Kerċem ahead early on and when Xagħra’s Michael Bezzina was sent off for dissent on 15 minutes that only served to further put wind in their sails.
However, despite being a man down, the Blues still succeeded in levelling matters through Daniel Sowatey only for Philip Taylor and Amadio to score at the other end for the Ajax to take a 3-1 lead at half-time.
There was only one team in it after the interval. Petar Kyumyurdzhiev added another goal on 68 minutes before Amadio completed his hat-trick.
Division Two
St Lawrence Spurs started the fourth and final round of the championship in style after a 4-1 win over Qala Saints.
Mohammed Senussi Telessi struck a double with the other goals coming from Charles Mercieca (26) and Jason Portelli (73).
Qala’s consolation goal came from a Brian Meilak penalty in stoppage time.
Munxar Falcons stayed on the winning track after a 3-1 win over second-bottom Żebbuġ Rovers.
Michael Mattias Uzor (penalty), Oliver Saliba and Jordi Parnis put the Falcons 3-0 ahead before Chris Borg pulled one back for Rovers.
Ejofor Nkowcha had a chance to make the scoreline look more respectable for the losers but failed to score from a penalty.