MIA Division Two

Gozo FC 3
Zebbug Rangers 1

Gozo FC maintained their promotion charge alive with a vital victory over Zebbug Rangers that puts them back at the top of the table, a timely boost before their next clash against Attard.

Zebbug had a better start and opened the score in the eighth minute through Eric Sciberras. Gozo were rather lucky to level the score 10 minutes later when Stephen Cassar's attempt to clear hit Maurizio Gauci and the ball ended in goal.

Gozo maintained the tempo and on the half-hour mark they were 2-1 up with a spectacular goal from a free-kick by Chris Camilleri.

Zebbug staged a strong reaction after the break. In the 59th minute, they were awarded a penalty for a foul on George Saliba, but Johann Zammit's shot from the spot was saved by Xuereb.

The Gozo FC keeper was again the protagonist minutes later with an excellent save following a free-kick by Cassar.

Gozo made sure of the points late in the match when Camilleri placed in goal following an Anthony Portelli pass.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Zurrieq 0
Vittoriosa Stars 1

Vittoriosa Stars are still not out of the promotion race following this hard-earned victory over relegation-troubled Zurrieq. They dictated matters for most of the match, going close in the opening minutes through Larry Lagana and Robert Adami.

Zurrieq's response came from a Philip Farrugia free-kick which was saved by Vittoriosa keeper Petrovic Coreschi.

The Stars maintained the initiative in the second-half with Zurrieq goalkeeper Farrugia called to make difficult saves to deny his opponents. However, there was nothing he could do nine minutes from time when Lagana fired home the winner.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Xghajra Tornadoes 0
Mellieha 3

As expected, Mellieha obtained the three points at stake as they defeated bottom team Xghajra in a difficult match decided with three quick goals scored in a five-minute spell after the Tornadoes had been reduced to ten players.

Xghajra played a solid match at the back and even had the chance to go ahead but Alex Azzopardi's penalty in the 21st minute was stopped by Mellieha goalkeeper David Vella with the help of the upright.

Four minutes into the second period, Mellieha were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement by Omar Schembri. However, Wayne Borg St John hit the woodwork from the spot.

In the 68th minute, Xghajra were reduced to ten players when Daniel Axisa was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

Mellieha immediately took the lead through Matthew Borg and in the 72nd minute Borg St John made it 2-0 after finishing off a good Jeffrey Gauci move. Borg St John increased Mellieha's lead four minutes later for an emphatic win.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Gzira United 1
St Andrews 0

Gzira United had to fight hard to beat St Andrews in a balanced match which was decided by a solitary goal scored by former Valletta wingback Karl Bonnici.

The Saints were the better team during the first period and after nine minutes they went close through Robert Guzman whose low shot just missed the target.

Gzira's Jason Tabone almost put the Maroons ahead with the Saints' response producing efforts from Anthony Galea and Claude Scerri.

Three minutes before the interval, the Saints were unlucky when Claude Scerri hit the upright from close range. From the rebound, Dale Spiteri's shot was saved by Micallef.

Five minutes after the restart, Gzira scored the all-important goal when Bonnici hit home from a direct free-kick which completely surprised Saints' keeper Cini.

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Division Three

Sta Venera 6
Ghaxaq 0

This was an easy win for Sta Venera as the scoreline clearly indicates. The Lightnings scored all their goals after the break and have now moved closer to the leading teams in the standings.

Sta Venera were extremely unlucky during the first period when in the opening six minutes they hit the woodwork on three occasions.

But soon after the restart the Saints were firing on all cylinders, scoring goals at a canter, through Jeffrey Zammit (penalty), Joe Chetcuti (2), Stephen Said, Denis Bonello and a Donald Vella own goal.

Referee: Ian Miller.

Pembroke Athleta 0
Gudja United 1

A second-half Chris Grech goal saw Gudja beating Pembroke in this clash of mid-table sides.

Early on, Pembroke had two free-kicks by Nicky Aquilina which could have broken the deadlock but gradually play resulted in midfield with both sets of defences dominating proceedings.

Gudja took the lead right on the hour when Grech headed home past the Pembroke goalkeeper. Gudja were then awarded a penalty for a foul by Karl Vella on Louis Falzon but the latter missed from the spot.

In the 86th minute, Gudja were reduced to ten players after Stefan Busuttil was sent off for a second caution.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Mgarr United 0
Siggiewi 1

Siggiewi obtained their third victory of the season as they beat Mgarr United through an early goal scored by Massimo Borg. Mgarr continue to occupy the bottom position in the league table with four points from 11 matches.

Siggiewi broke the deadlock after 11 minutes when Borg fired an unstoppable drive past the stranded Mgarr goalkeeper Fenech.

Siggiewi were again close as Pierre Spiteri's header was cleared off the line by veteran Wistin Vella. Mgarr's response produced a close-range header by Neil Busuttil which just missed the target.

Two minutes before the interval Siggiewi were close to double their lead but the woodwork twice came to Mgarr's rescue.

Mgarr assumed the initiative after the break but failed to pierce the opponents' defence. At the other end, Fenech was alert to keep his side in the game as last-gasp efforts from Vella and Busuttil failed to reap any dividends for the northerners.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Birzebbuga 6
Ta' Xbiex 0

Birzebbuga closed the gap on the promotion challengers with an emphatic win over Ta' Xbiex in which striker Jean Pierre Abdilla notched a hat-trick.

Birzebbuga dictated matters right from the start and it was no surprise when Darren Prendergast put them in front with a fine shot.

Minutes later Neville Farrugia and Prendergast lost good chances to increase their lead. But just before the break Abdilla scored two quick goals, in the 39th and 44th minutes, to send Birzebbuga three goals up at the break.

Two minutes into the second-half, Farrugia scored Birzebbuga's fourth and on 59 minutes the same player hit his second of the match after some good work by Jason Saliba. In the 71st minute Farrugia was again on target but his goal was annulled for offside.

A minute into injury-time, Abdilla completed his hat-trick to seal Birzebbuga's win.

Referee: Mariano Debono.