Nadur Youngsters maintained their perfect run in the GFA Division One after beating Kerċem Ajax 2-1 despite finishing the match with 10 men.
Both sides had a couple of key players missing as Nadur were without striker Jonathan Soares (injured) and Kerċem’s central defender Petar Kyumyurdzhiev was suspended.
Kerċem were led for the first time by player/coach Sabri Rais. He replaced Josef Vella who submitted his resignation last week after three years at the helm.
Nadur had Anthony Portelli sent off midway through the first half for retaliation but the cham-pions never lost composure. They opened the scoring just before the break when Brandon Said hit low past Ajax keeper Leonard Camilleri.
The second half saw Nadur remain in control and, ten minutes after the restart, they doubled their lead with a Milos Stojanovic goal from a free-kick.
Kerċem pulled one back on 83 minutes when the referee awarded them a penalty for a foul by Frankie Camilleri on Ian Xuereb. Jean Paul Mizzi converted from the spot.
Nadur closed all gaps to their goal and Kerċem also had a man sent off when Xuereb got red-carded in time added on.
Xewkija Tigers also prolonged their fine patch of late with a 4-0 win over Oratory Youths.
They practically made sure of the points with three first-half goals scored by Manwel Xerri and a Dene Shields brace, both from penalties.
Shields could have added another goal within seconds of the start of the second period but his effort hit the post.
Oratory never got going and Shields completed his hat-trick with a late goal after being put through by Mark Camilleri.
SK Victoria Wanderers registered a narrow 1-0 win over city rivals Victoria Hotspurs to move third in the standings.
Victory for the Wanderers was deserved as they produced the better fare and went close to scoring through attempts by Fernando Giarrizzo, Sam Frank Bajada and Peter Anizoba.
The Wanderers scored the goal that mattered on 32 minutes when Eric Nwankwo’s shot took a deflection and Anizoba followed the action to push the ball over the line from close in.
In the other match, Munxar Falcons turned defeat into victory after hitting three goals past Xagħra United without reply.
This was a match between the two sides still without a point after four matches.
Xagħra opened the scoring on 14 minutes through Sunday Baala. The Blues were unlucky not to double their lead as Simon Galea’s shot came off the crossbar.
Munxar levelled matters just before half-time from a penalty taken by skipper Mario Azzopardi.
The Falcons carried their momentum into the second half and took the lead on 49 minutes when Joseph Grima’s attempt was partially stopped by keeper Victor Agius and from the rebound, Darren Farrugia rammed the ball home.
Xagħra suffered a setback when they had Mark Buhagiar sent off for a second bookable offence.
Munxar made sure of the win with a third goal scored by Paul Anthony Attard.
Division Two
Qala Saints cruised to a 4-0 win over Għarb Rangers to take sole leadership in the Division Two standings.
The Maroons struck three times before half-time through Frank Attard (2) and Chris Attard.
Qala continued to dictate matters after the break, rounding up victory with a fourth goal by substitute Francisco Mumford in stoppage time.
The match between Sannat Lions and St Lawrence Spurs was a lively contest which the former won 3-2.
Fernando De Andrade scored a brace as Sannat keeper Angelo Brignoli denied the Spurs on several occasions with a series of fine saves.
Sannat took a two-goal lead before the break through De Andrade and Daniel Borg.
De Andrade made it 3-0 on 55 minutes but St Lawrence never stopped running and goals from Mambaye Boye and Christopher Cauchi made the score more respectable for them.