Xewkija Tigers dropped their first points in the GFA Division One league as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited SK Victoria Wanderers team.
In another match from the top flight last weekend, Sannat Lions finally got off the mark with a resounding 3-0 win over the hapless Victoria Hotspurs.
Xewkija are the favourites for the league title this season but they failed to get past a solid Wanderers team who played for more than half the match with a player less.
Xewkija opened the score two minutes before the half-hour mark through an excellent Elton Vella free-kick but the Citizens equalised eight minutes from the break thanks to a tap-in by Kenneth Mercieca.
However, the Wanderers’ joy was marred with a red card to Joseph Vella who got sent off for a second booking following exces-sive celebrations.
But the Wanderers were not overwhelmed despite playing against more quoted opponents.
They closed all avenues to their goal and even went close to taking the lead but Mercieca’s grounder ended inches wide.
Xewkija tried hard to pierce the solid Wanderers’ defence but to no avail.
On one occasion John Camilleri did put the ball inside the Victoria net but his ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.
Sannat look to have recovered from a very difficult start, also scoring their first goals against the Hotspurs who conceded a second consecutive defeat.
Sannat opened the score on 36 minutes with an Eric Nwankwo goal and Noel Borg doubled the lead soon after the restart as they continued to dominate play.
Nwankwo sealed the issue with a third goal in stoppage time.
In Division Two, Kerċem Ajax consolidated their position at the top of the standings and a return to the top flight after two years with a 5-0 victory over promotion contenders Żebbuġ Rovers.
Kerċem scored twice before half-time, through Frankie Camilleri and Sabri Rais, and Malcolm Vella hit a second-half hat-trick for a comfortable win.
In the other match from Divi-sion Two last weekend, St Law-rence Spurs scored two late goals, through Franklin Grima and Jonathan Micallef, to beat lowly Qala Saints 2-0.
| Div. One | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Xewkija Tigers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Nadur Y’sters | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Xagħra United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| SK Victoria W. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Sannat Lions | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Victoria H’spurs | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Għajnsielem | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Div. Two | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Kerċem Ajax | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 |
| St Lawrence | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Zebbug Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Munxar Falcons | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Oratory Youths | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Qala Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Għarb Rangers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |