Nadur Youngsters edged Xagħra United 3-2 to regain sole leadership in the standings as third-placed SK Victoria Wanderers stayed in touch with the front-runners after a 1-0 win over rivals Victoria Hotspurs.
The Youngsters looked headed for an emphatic victory after taking a 3-0 lead in the first half. Claudio Antunes put them ahead on 19 minutes and Joseph Vella (ex-SK Victoria Wanderers) doubled Nadur’s advantage five minutes later.
Milos Stojanovic made it 3-0 just before half-time with a firm header.
In the early stages of the second half, Nadur could have added more goals to their tally but Anthony Portelli and Claudio Antunes failed to score from ideal positions.
Xagħra pulled one back on 58 minutes through Michael Bezzina. The goal lifted the Blues’ confidence. Substitute Daniel Bartolo and Joseph Xerri went close and 17 minutes from time, Thiago dos Santos further narrowed the gap with a fine solo effort.
Scoring opportunities were created at both ends of the field. Nadur should have sealed it when the referee awarded them a penalty for a foul by keeper Matthew Vella on Joseph Vella but the Blues’ no.1 made up for his mistake by saving Antunes’s spot-kick.
There were more anxious moments for Nadur who ended the match with 10 players after Charles Mercieca was sent off in the stoppage time for dissent.
Victoria Hotspurs saw more of the ball during the first half of the derby but the Wanderers were dangerous on the counter. The Wanderers improved after the break and got more wind in their sails when Dylan Bellotti, of Victoria Hotspurs, was red-carded on 75 minutes for a second bookable offence.
The Wanderers scored the goal that mattered six minutes later courtesy of Kenneth Mercieca.
Division Two
Oratory Youths made the runners-up spot in Division Two theirs after a 2-1 win over St Lawrence Spurs. The two sides were sharing second place behind Kerċem before kick-off.
St Lawrence opened the scoring with a goal by Fabian Cini before half-time but Oratory made a strong reaction and turned the result in their favour with goals from Martin Cremona (66) and Shaun Attard (89).
Mid-table Munxar Falcons beat Żebbuġ Rovers 3-1.
Keith Borg fired Munxar ahead inside the first minute and Daniel Pace hit a brace on 36 and 71 minutes as the Falcons went 3-0 up.
Żebbuġ scored a late consolation goal through Nicholas Mercieca.
Qala Saints came from behind to beat Għarb Rangers.
Rangers forged ahead through Joseph Muscat after six minutes but Qala overturned the deficit by half-time thanks to goals from Mario Mifsud (15) and John Rapa (34).
division one