St Patrick 3
Mġarr United 0
St Patrick beat Mġarr United comfortably last weekend to chalk up their first win in the Division Two championship.
After going down to Pembroke and Sta Venera in their previous outings, the Saints produced a better performance, showing more cohesion in the team.
Clayton Camilleri and Nikolay Filipov, along with Alex Ellul and Keith Muscat, had an exceptionally good match, causing several anxious moments to the Mġarr defence.
Mġarr are struggling at this early phase of the campaign. Their attack was non-existent and on this occasion St Patrick’s goalkeeper Borg had an untroubled day at the office.
St Patrick had their first real scoring opportunity of the game inside the first five minutes but both Ellul and Muscat failed to tap in an inviting Camilleri centre.
The Yellows held the initiative and opened the scoring on 23 minutes. Muscat sped past the Mġarr defence and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.
St Patrick went close again, this time following another good combination between Camilleri and Filipov. Mġarr keeper Muscat intercepted the ball before Filipov could connect.
Shortly after the break, Muscat saved in style a headed attempt by Filipov as Mġarr could have drawn level on 55 minutes but Abela was thwarted by the alert Borg who rushed out of his box to avert the danger.
St Patrick then scored twice in quick succession to secure the points.
On 73 minutes, Filipov served the unmarked Camilleri who hit home with relative ease and five minutes later substitute Guazzo laid a perfect ball for Ellul to direct a looping header past the stranded Mġarr keeper.
St Patrick: J. Borg, M. Xerri, D. Fava, N. Filipov, C. Camilleri, S. Dimech, K. Azzopardi, L. Scerri, G. Failla (S. Zerafa), K. Muscat (A. Guazzo), A. Ellul (R. Ellul).
Mġarr United: J. Muscat, W. Camilleri, M. Bugeja, C. Abela, R. Marmara (I. Cutajar), A. Aquilina (M. Deguara), L. Agius (J. Gauci), P. Fenech, B. Galea, C. Tabone, D. Teixeira Xerra.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Editor’s note
• The decision to have matches from the lower leagues played at different stadiums should be commended. However, it is up to the MFA and clubs involved to see that journalists are provided with adequate amenities to carry out their duties efficiently.
On Sunday afternoon, a young reporter on duty suffered damage to her equipment while covering Division Two matches at the Mosta ground where reporting has to be conducted from the spectator stands.
Apparently, difficulties of the same nature exist at other venues.
Those responsible are urged to take the necessary measures and make their utmost to prevent simi-lar mishaps from recurring.
St George’s 2
Sta Venera 2
St George’s: R. Marmara, E. Sevasta, R. Previ, G. Vella, G. Tanti (Q. Bregman), J. Farrugia, E. Amaira, M. Brincat, S. Agius, W. Sciberras (G. Chircop), O.L. Ogboebinna.
Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, A. Wingfield, D. Zammit (D. Mercieca), E. Wileman, R. Borg, K. Cilia, N. Caruana (J. Zammit), A. Hili, L. Desira, M. Muscat, R. Carbonaro.
Referee: Philip Buhagiar.
Scorers: Wileman 2 (SV), Amaira 20 (SG), J. Zammit 80 (SV), Ogboebinna (SG) 86.
Red card: Vella 82 (SG).
Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Siġġiewi 1
Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica, L. Camilleri, R. Spiteri, W. Camenzuli, L.J. Agius, J. Xerri, A. Tabone, D. D’Agostino (D. Farrugia), M.O. Britto (B. Chetcuti).
Siġġiewi: I. Cassar, J. Mercieca, N. Galea, G. Mallia, M. Camilleri, K. Buhagiar (E. Bugeja), R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri (S. Vella), J. Shead, R. Geka, E. Ciappara (M. Deguara).
Referee: Matthew Degabriele.
Scorers: Camenzuli 15 (Ż), Xerri 27 (Ż), Farrugia 30 (S).
Red cards: Tabone 30 (Ż), Galea 45 (S).
Fgura United 2
Pembroke Athleta 4
Fgura: B. Bartolo, R. Adami, H. Schembri, D. Sammut, J. Dalli (L. Bonett), G. Martin, N. Zerafa, K. Darmanin, M. Portelli, L. Vella (M. Zammit), I. Ginev (M. Spiteri).
Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, M. Mamo, L. Cilia, J.C. Borg, A. Attard, M. Borg (C. Leonardi), J. Mifsud, C. De-battista (G. Spiteri), J. Emeka, R. Caruana (N. Coleiro Gatt), D. Cremona.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Scorers: Borg 19, 26 (P), Vella 54 (F), Cilia 73 (P), Spiteri 81 (F), Emeka 90 (P).
Mellieħa 1
Msida St Joseph 6
Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Vella, J. Zammit, K. Fenech, D. Cauchi (M. Trapani), W. Borg, P. Taylor, K. Simiana, M. Calleja (D. Saliba), W. Borg St John, G. Galea (A. Attard).
Msida: J. Agius (D. Borda), M. Borda, W. Buttigieg, S. Vella, L. Cassar, F. de Andrade, R. Celeste (R. Attard), S. Magro (M. Grioli), D. Attard, M. Caruana, T. Templeman.
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Scorers: Magro 21 (MSD), Templeman 29 (MSD), Celeste 41 (MSD), De Andrade 56 (MSD), Taylor 72 (MEL), Grioli 86 (MSD), Attard 88 (MSD).
Red card: Fenech (MEL) 30.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Pembroke | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
| Żebbuġ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
| Msida SJ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| Żurrieq | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| San Ġwann | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| St George’s | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Mellieħa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Siġġiewi | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Sta Venera | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| St Patrick | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Fgura United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Għargħur | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Mġarr | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Kirkop | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 |