Fgura United 1
St George’s 1

Żebbuġ Rangers kept a firm grip on top spot of the Division Two standings after brushing aside Sta Venera 5-0 last weekend to maintain a five-point lead over nearest rivals San Ġwann.

San Ġwann stay second following a 3-1 win over Għargħur, three points clear of third-placed Msida who could only manage a 1-1 draw against Żurrieq.

St George’s and Fgura are fourth and fifth respectively after they fought out a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

This was a low-key contest with scoring chances few and far between as both sides seemed more focused on defending their goal rather than pushing forward.

Fgura had their first shot on target ten minutes into the match, when Keith Darmanin’s free-kick skimmed the Saints’ woodwork.

For St George’s, Gary Inguanez tried his luck from outside the box but goalkeeper Bartolo did well to push the shot over the bar.

Fgura who broke the stalemate on 34 minutes, Gilbert Martin surged clear before sending a cross towards Emilio Cornago San Pedro who anticipated his marker and hit a looping header into the net.

On the restart, Fgura protested for a penalty as Martin was brought down in the box but the referee was unmoved and booked the striker for simulation instead.

St George’s were back in business on 64 minutes. Agius won possession in the middle of the pitch before picking up Osi Agbeobinna who equalised with an angled shot.

Fgura should have regained their lead five minutes later when Lydon Vella burst clear, turned past keeper Galea but his shot was cleared off the line by Sevasta as the Cottonera side held on for a point.

Fgura: B. Bartolo, R. Adami, L. Bonett (N. Fenech), P. Chircop (N. Zerafa), N. Curmi, K. Darmanin, G. Martin, D. Sammut, L. Vella (C. Camenzuli), M. Spiteri, E. Cornago San Pedro.

St George’s: T. Galea, E. Sevasta, S. Bugeja, Q. Deguara, R. Previ, G. Inguanez, J. Farrugia, E. Amaira (W. Sciberras), S. Agius (G. Chircop), O.L. Agbeobinna, M. Brincat (G. Vella).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Summaries

Sta Venera Lightnings 0
Żebbuġ Rangers 5

Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, R. Borg, D. Zammit, M. Muscat, K. Cilia, L. Spiteri (R. Bezzina), G. Micallef, A. Wingfield (J. Micallef), E. Wileman, N. Caruana, D. Rapa (S. Farrugia).

Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica (S. Hili), M. Farrugia, M. Rodrigues Britto (J. Agius), A. Tabone, L.J. Agius, L. Camilleri, J. Nwoba, B. Chetcuti, D. D’Agostino (C. Caccia-tolo).

Referee: Darell Agius.

Scorers: Francica 15, Britto 34, 58, Chetcuti 72, Nwoba 74.

Mellieha 1
Mġarr United 1

Mellieħa: K. Cutajar, M. Vella, L. Cauchi, W. Borg, J. Zammit, K. Fenech, P. Taylor, D. Saliba (D. Borg), W. Borg St John, G. Galea (K. Simiana), R. Cutajar (J. Cutajar).

Mġarr: K. Ellul, W. Camilleri, C. Bugeja, A. Aquilina, L. Agius (I. Cutajar), S. Licari, B. Galea, S. Camilleri, C. Tabone, C. Abela, J. Said (G. Vella).

Referee: Martin Borg.

Scorers: Cutajar 16 (MEL), Galea 66 (MĠ).

Red card: Vella 77 (MEL).

Msida St Joseph 1
Żurrieq 1

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, O. Zammit, M. Borda, S. Vella, M. Caruana (R. Attard), S. Magro, K. Grech (L. Baldacchino), A. Diarra (F. D. De Andrade), T. Templemann, R. Celeste.

Żurrieq: J. Alden, J. Lia, D. Stoja-novic, K. Sacco, N. Abdilla, C. Farrugia, M. Schembri, M. Cocks, S. Azzopardi, J. Briffa (D. Darmanin), D. Zammit (T. Borg).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Scorers: Celeste 40 (M), Azzopardi 50 (Ż).

Pembroke Athleta 2
St Patrick 0

Pembroke: N. Grima, N. Gatt Coleiro, M. Mamo, L. Cilia (M. Borg), L. Debattista, J.R. Emeka, G. Spiteri, D. Cremona, A. Galea (D. Calleja Cremona), L. Grech (J.C. Borg), K. Micallef.

St. Patrick: J. Borg, A. Ellul, M. Xerri, S. Dimech, A. Lagana (L. Scerri), G. Failla, R. Ellul, A. Guazzo, J.R. Vella, K. Muscat, N. Filipov.

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzza.

Scorers: Cilia 48, Gatt Coleiro 60.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Żebbuġ	14	9	4	1	37	15	31
San Ġwann	14	7	5	2	29	16	26
Msida SJ	14	6	5	3	28	22	23
St George’s	14	5	7	2	23	17	22
Fgura United	14	6	3	5	22	23	21
Zurrieq	14	5	6	3	21	15	21
Siġġiewi	14	6	3	5	25	21	21
Pembroke A.	14	5	5	4	22	18	20
St Patrick	14	6	2	6	17	16	20
Mellieħa	14	4	5	5	13	24	17
Kirkop United	14	4	4	6	15	20	16
Sta Venera	14	2	4	8	17	36	10
Għargħur	14	1	5	8	15	23	8
Mġarr United	14	1	4	9	15	33	7

Strickland Cup

The Malta FA will be hosting the third Strickland Cup at the Cen-tenary Stadium this week.

The knockout tournament will again see the participation of Divi-sion Three sides Swieqi, Mtarfa, Ta’ Xbiex and Xgħajra Tornadoes.

Programme
Tomorrow: Semi-finals – 6pm Ta’ Xbiex vs Xgħajra Tornadoes; 8pm Swieqi vs Mtarfa.
Saturday: Third-place play-off – 2pm. Final – 4pm.