Rabat Ajax 1
St George’s 0

Rabat Ajax started their Division One trek with a narrow but merited victory over St George’s, yesterday.

The Magpies, who practically kept the same side of last season, held the edge for much of the match and could have registered a more pronounced victory had they profited from the chances that came their way.

The match was off to a slow start and the first goalmouth action came midway through the first half when a Mark Tanti free-kick sailed just over the Rabat goal.

As time ticked by the Magpies started coming more into the picture and they went on to open the score on 35 minutes.

Wayne Borg was on the right spot to collect a Lawrence Chiedozie pass before placing his shot in the far right hand corner of the net.

Rabat continued to play the better football and two minutes before the break a Chiedozie header, from a Borg delivery, finished inches wide.

In stoppage time, the Saints could have scored an equaliser but Dalato Ayuba fired wide from a good position.

Rabat started the second half in attack mode and Chiedozie saw his firm grounder saved in style by Sean Cini.

At the other end, Timmy Thomas was put clear by Tanti but was foiled by the quick-thinking keeper Jamie Azzopardi.

Chiedozie latched on to a David Azzopardi pass but saw his effort beating Cini and coming off the foot of the post.

A minute later, Dalato Ayuba profited from some hesitant defending inside the Rabat half but he drove his shot out of range. Thomas then flicked just wide following a Dalato Ayuba cross.

Rabat should have wrapped up the points late on but Adam Smeir hit badly from in front of the Saints’ goal.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, W. Borg, C. Vella, A. Smeir (S. Abela), D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, F. Azzopardi (B. Micallef), D. Azzopardi.

St George’s: S. Cini, R. Brignone (C. Vella), N. Falzon, I. Uwadia, R. Buhagiar, L. Doretto (M. Thorne), C. Farrugia, B. Dalato Ayuba, M. Tanti (K. Abela), U. Nwoko, T. Thomas.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: Shaun Gauci (Rabat Ajax).

San Ġwann 1
Żebbuġ Rangers 1

San Ġwann: M. Grech, Z. Bowman, J. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, J. Briffa, N. Muscat, A. Borg, J. Cutajar, S. Vella (A. Cachia), J. Tanti (C. Cuschieri), F. Udoh.

Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, R. Bakare, K. Sacco, G. McKay, K. Borg (K. Zammit), A. Catania, S. Hili, T. Paris (C. Carl Pace), M. Gauci (D. Tabone), L. Galea, D. Fernando.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Scorers: Cutajar (SĠ) 24; Catania (ŻR) 82.

Man of the match: Matthew Gauci (Żebbuġ Rangers).

Fgura United 1
Ħamrun Spartans 3

Fgura: R. Marmara, Q. Bregman (C. Vella), J. Bugeja, R. Costa (D. Attard), I. Curmi (J. Farrugia), J. Dalli, Y. Gisse, D. Vukovic, J. Ruiz Perez, L. Vella Critien, A. Farrugia.

Ħamrun: F. Tabone, G. Azzopardi, L. Grech, M.A. Borg, M. Hrubsa, O. Anonam, R. Spiteri (A. Micallef), A. Tabone, S. Nanapere (M. Muchardi), T. Cilia (R. Refalo), H. Garba.

Scorers: Garba (Ħ) 39, 75, 83; Ruiz Perez (F) 69.

Missed penalty: Tabone (Ħ) 50.

Referee: Etienne Mangion.

Man of the match: Haruna Garba (Ħamun Spartans).

Gudja United 1
Melita 2

Gudja: D. Balzan, I. Cachia, D. Bonnici, D. Alof (J. Chase), G. Chircop, B. Bondin, C. Grech, X. Kapaj, A. Agius, D. Pirotta (D. Farrugia), J. Clifford.

Melita: J.C. Debattista, I. Tufegdzic, E. Cornago, B. Jaccarini, L. Bianco, D. Cachia, J.P. Attard (L. Mifsud), N. Micallef, F. Mennini Righini, A. Borg Olivier, A. Attard (L. Busuttil).

Scorers: J.P. Attard (M) 25; A. Attard (M) 38; Bondin (G) 69.

Referee: Emmanuel Grech.

Man of the match: Alan Borg Olivier (Melita).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hamrun	1	1	0	0	3	1	3
Senglea	1	1	0	0	2	0	3
Melita	1	1	0	0	2	1	3
Rabat Ajax	1	1	0	0	1	0	3
Gzira	1	1	0	0	1	0	3
Pieta	1	1	0	0	1	0	3
San Gwann	1	0	1	0	1	1	1
Zebbug	1	0	1	0	1	1	1
St George’s	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
Lija	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
Vittoriosa	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
Gudja United	1	0	0	1	1	2	0
Fgura United	1	0	0	1	1	3	0
Mqabba	1	0	0	1	0	2	0