Xewkija Tigers inflicted a heavy 5-0 defeat on Oratory Youths in the first fixture from match-day 12 of the GFA Division One to leapfrog Nadur Youngsters albeit having played a match more than the champions.
The Tigers had Gilbert Agius making a return from suspension and they also recovered Jason Portelli from an injury.
As expected, Xewkija dominated for long stretches and victory was never in doubt.
Midway through the first half, the Tigers opened the score when Rodney Buttigieg was released in the opponents’ box and he netted easily from close distance.
Oratory’s resistance fell through and on 31 minutes they suffered a second goal which came following a fine Dene Shields header from a free-kick taken by Chris Camilleri.
The Youths also suffered another setback on 36 minutes when they were reduced to ten players as Shaun Attard was sent off for a second booking.
The score became 3-0 soon after the restart thanks to a goal from the quick-thinking Jason Portelli who hit home after a melee inside the Oratory box.
Rodney Buttigieg scored his side’s fourth goal, heading in from close distance after receiving from Camilleri, who was on the mark 20 minutes from time as he was first to pounce on a rebound after Shields’s effort came off the upright.
The other match from the top flight last weekend was a derby between Victoria Hotspurs and SK Victoria Wanderers.
This was a well-contested en-counter but no team emerged vic-torious after a 1-1 draw.
The Wanderers had Peter Anizoba serving suspension but were still looking to join Xewkija at the top of the standings on 27 points while the Hotspurs needed all three points at stake to keep hoping for a place in the play-offs.
The Wanderers suffered a setback in the opening half as they were forced to substitute striker Joseph Vella and keeper Simon Agius due to injuries.
They were unlucky not to open the score on 27 minutes when a header by Eric Nwankwo from a corner hit the crossbar. However, Nwankwo was more accurate with a lob two minutes later to put the Wanderers in front.
The Hotspurs pulled back level a few minutes later when a cross-shot by Saturday Nanapere surprised the keeper and sailed in at the far post.
They pushed more men forward after the break but the best chance again fell to Nwankwo only for his effort to be neutralised by the opponents’ rearguard.
The Hotspurs had an attempt by Dylan Bellotti stopped by stand-in keeper Joel Xiberras and a shot by substitute Jonathan Holland cleared off the line by Nwankwo.
Deep into stoppage time, the Hotspurs almost scored a dramatic winner but Mark Muscat’s shot from an angle was stopped by Xiberras.
Division Two
The last match of the second round from the GFA Division Two championship saw Għajnsielem regaining sole leadership with a 3-0 win over Qala Saints.
The Blacks opened a two-goal lead early on following a brace by Joseph Attard.
They continued to dictate matter for long stretches of the match but had to wait until the 90th minute to seal their victory with a goal from substitute Andrew Attard.
Għarb Rangers heralded the start of the third round with a handsome 5-1 win over Żebbuġ Rovers to move off the bottom place in the standings.
Michael Uzor Matthias scored four of Rangers’ goals with Christian Attard adding his name to the scoresheet for his side’s fifth goal in a comprehensive Għarb win.
Żebbuġ’s consolation goal came through skipper Sylvan Galea right on the hour.
Galea could have made the score look more respectable on 82 minutes but his penalty hit the upright.