Nadur Youngsters had to dig deep to beat Victoria Hotspurs 1-0 and retain their top place in the GFA Division One, last weekend.
The Hotspurs, needing a win to close the gap with the league pacesetters, saw more of the ball but Nadur defended strongly to hold on to their narrow lead.
The goal that mattered arrived on 52 minutes when Dewide Dos Santos hit low and home after being put through by Claudio Antunes following a fast break.
The Hotspurs tried hard to pierce the Youngsters’ rearguard but to no avail and their match ended on a sour note when they had Henrique Maciel sent off for a second bookable offence.
Second-placed Għajnsielem were also made to sweat to beat Xagħra United 1-0 as the Blues continue with their plight for their first points in the championship.
Xagħra produced their best performance this season as they defended soundly and also created a couple of good scoring opportunities. They only succumbed in stoppage time when Edison Bilbao Zarate headed home from a Ferdinando Apap centre.
In other matches, Oratory Youths beat Xewkija Tigers 2-1 and Kerċem Ajax recovered from three consecutive defeats with a 3-1 victory over SK Victoria Wanderers.
Oratory confirmed they’re the revelation team this season as they moved to a mid-table position while third-placed Xewkija lost the chance to remain close to the title contenders.
Oratory took an early lead through Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos and they held control for long stretches.
The Tigers increased their efforts after the break and levelled the scores when Dene Shields headed home from close in.
Xewkija failed to keep the upperhand and Oratory regained the lead on 77 minutes, Borja Polo Longarela heading in past the keeper.
Kerċem, now in fourth place on nine points, suffered an early setback when Milanko Raskovic put the Wanderers ahead after only three minutes.
But the Ajax staged a strong reaction and dominated the rest of the encounter.
Elton Vella levelled matters on 22 minutes and then he unmarked Trayo Grozev who netted with a low shot past the keeper.
Kerċem sealed victory on 76 minutes when Vella curled his shot home from a free-kick.
The first round of the championship comes to a close this week with the top-of-the-table clash between Nadur and Għajnsielem scheduled for this evening at the Gozo Stadium.
In Division Two, Sannat Lions marked their 1,000th official match in style as they cemented their place at the top of the standings with a 3-1 win over lowly Munxar Falcons, last weekend.
Sannat scored two early goals, through Sunday Baala and Josiah Buttigieg before Munxar were reduced to ten players when Paul Said was shown a straight red card for elbowing.
Lions substitute Joseph Zammit made it 3-0 with an 81st-minute goal as bottom-placed Munxar pulled one back late on through Francesco Cini.
St Lawrence Spurs wrapped up their first round with a 4-1 win over Żebbuġ Rovers to go second in the standings.
Ikechukwu Igwemeke put the Rovers ahead on six minutes but the Spurs turned the result in their favour before half-time following goals by Mohammed Senussi Telessi (penalty) and a Christian Bugeja own goal.
Luke Attard and Senussi Telessi made sure for the Spurs with two other goals after the break.
Playing today
Gozo Stadium: 18.00 Kerċem Ajax vs Xagħra United. 20.00 Għajnsielem vs Nadur Youngsters.