Melita 1
Pembroke Athleta 0

Pembroke Athleta missed the chance to move top of the Division One standings after suffering their second defeat to neighbouring rivals Melita this season.

After going five matches without a win, Melita are now back in the promotion hunt but they were indebted to goalkeeper Philip Schranz for the three points yesterday as the young goalkeeper made several saves, especially in the first half when Pembroke were the better side.

Melita stunned Pembroke with a goal inside the opening 90 seconds.

Michael Valenzia’s cross was misjudged by Pembroke goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona with the ball coming off a post but Kane Micallef was on hand to slot home.

Pembroke staged an immediate reaction. In the fifth minute, Ayrton Azzopardi powered his way into the area but his shot was stopped by Schranz.

Three minutes later, Lyden Micallef’s drive from well outside the area sailed over the crossbar.

It was all Pembroke at this stage.

Midway into the half, Roderick Bajada’s free-kick was again saved by the Melita custodian and, two minutes later, Siraj Arab dashed into the box and dribbled past two defenders but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

Melita were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure but, from a quick counter-attack, they threatened to double their advantage seven minutes from half-time.

Kane Micallef lobbed the ball wide from an inviting position.

Pembroke continued to dictate matters.

Two minutes from half-time, Micallef’s free-kick from the distance was blocked by Schranz.

A minute later, Pembroke went close again but Melita defender George Gribbon cleared off the line from a corner despite being surrounded by a host of Pembroke players.

Ten minutes into the second half, Melita’s Julian Galea controlled well after being served by Micallef but his effort brought a fine save from Calleja Cremona.

Pembroke continued to attack in search of an equaliser but only came close on 75 minutes when Azzopardi, played through by Arab, turned past two defenders but his close-range effort was neutralised by the alert Schranz as Melita held on for a vital win.

Melita: P. Schranz, R. Alinho, G. Gribbon, N. Micallef, A. Borg Olivier, K. Coleiro, J. Galea (E. Cornago), M. Valenzia. K. Micallef (J.P. Attard), A. Attard (L. Bianco), F. Mennini Righini.

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, C. Mamo, O. Sidibe, A. Azzopardi, S. Chircop (G. Spiteri), A. Agius (A. Laudisi), D. Sammut, L. Omeruo, S. Arab (S. Hili), L. Micallef, R. Bajada.

Referee: Chris Lautier

Man of the match: Philip Schranz (Melita).

Summaries

Msida St Joseph 1
St George’s 1

Msida St Joseph: M. Camilleri, L. Cassar, S. Vella, I. Chircop, G. Vella, D. Cachia, D. Attard (K. Borg), R. Faria, R. Forace, Z. Vukovic, U. Anyanwu (G. Murakami).

St George’s: C. Carbonaro, R. Vella, R. Tanti (O. Giordano), D. Camilleri (M. Tanti), L. Mallia, N. Ojuola, W. Ifeanyi (B. Muscat), A. Bonello, L. Mallia, I. Francis, E. Amaira.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Scorers: Amaira 5 (SG); Anyanwu (M) 11.

Man of the match: Ricardo Faria (Msida St Joseph).

St Andrew’s 2
Fgura United 2

St Andrew’s: J. Galea, N. Vella Petroni (K. Nwoko), D. Zampa, B. Said, M. Sehitaj, N. Bradshaw (L. Busuttil), J. Farrugia, M. Guillaumier, M. Desira Buttigieg, T. Grozev, E. Lattes.

Fgura: R. Marmara, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J. Ruiz Perez, A. Galea (C. Vella), J. Bugeja, D. Attard, J. Farrugia (A. Mendy Razak), A. Farrugia, J. Dalli (P. Chircop), J.R. Emeka.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Scorers: Desira Buttigieg (SA) 26; Bradshaw (SA) 45; Emeka (F) 49; Previ (F) 58 pen.

Man of the match: John Roland Emeka (Fgura United).

Vittoriosa Stars 1
Gżira United 4

Vittoriosa: K. Magri, L. Vella Critien (I. Abela), K. Scicluna, S. Grech (G. Sultana), L. Gauci, R. Degiorgio, E. Henrique Guedes, R. Mifsud, F. Arriagada Mella, C. Sammut, C. Spiteri.

Gżira: A. Curmi, S. Moreno Marin (G. Aquilina), D. Scerri, D. Vukovic, S. Meilak, M. Avila-Perez, J. Pace, J. Mifsud, J. Nwoba, E. Ndjodo (A. Ewurum), Y. Tonna (J.P. Scerri).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Scorers: Nwoba (GU) 23, 45, 69; Arriagada Mella (VS) 39; Ndjodo (GU) 66.

Man of the match: John Nwoba (Gżira United).

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Gudja Utd	14	8	4	2	30	13	28
Pembroke	14	8	2	4	25	13	26
St Andrew’s	14	8	2	4	28	22	26
Gżira Utd	14	8	1	5	27	18	25
Melita	14	7	2	5	17	16	23
Vittoriosa	14	6	4	4	24	19	22
St George’s	14	6	3	5	22	19	21
Lija Athletic	14	7	0	7	22	21	21
Fgura Utd	14	4	8	2	16	15	20
Mqabba	14	5	2	7	22	26	17
Rabat Ajax	14	5	2	7	14	19	17
Msida SJ	14	4	2	8	14	26	14
Żurrieq	14	3	1	10	13	29	10
Birżebbuġa	14	1	3	10	16	34	6