Msida St Joseph 4
Mqabba 0

Msida St Joseph moved to the top of the Division One standings yesterday after an easy 4-0 win over relegation-haunted Mqabba at the Centenary Stadium.

Msida were in a class of their own and fully deserved to bag all three points. Charles Sciberras had a fine debut for the Saints after his move from Floriana. He is set to play a key role in Msida's promotion challenge.

Mqabba struggled to contain their opponents' attacking charge even though had they taken the chances which came their way the match could have taken a different twist. With only two points ahead of second-from-bottom Gozo, Mqabba must start picking up points if they are to survive.

Msida had a Jeremy Agius shot beating Mqabba goalkeeper Reuben Cini but that effort was blocked on the line by Leli Grech. Mqabba could have scored themselves soon after but from a goalmouth scramble Ikechukwu Chibueze failed to control the ball and the chance was lost.

Msida broke the deadlock after five minutes when Karl Vella Petroni's cross was headed home by Daniel Nwoke. Then, Sciberras released Agius in the Mqabba box but Cini blocked. Tarik Ibrahim's lob finished just wide of Cini's goal.

Nine minutes after the restart Msida doubled their lead courtesy of a fine Nwoke volley from a Donald Gatt cross. Mqabba could have pulled one back on 57 minutes but, with an open goal at his mercy, Muscat fumbled Chibueze's throughball.

Msida were practically home and dry in the 65th minute. Agius found the unmarked Fabio Cauchi who buried the ball home.

Msida were awarded a penalty ten minutes later when Nwoke saw his lob handled by defender Callus. However, Agius' shot from the 11 metres finished over the bar.

Two minutes from time Msida sealed the issue thanks to Nwoke who fired past Cini.

Msida: D. Chircop, J. Briffa, J. Delia, T. Farrugia, F. Cauchi, C. Sciberras, T. Ibrahim (I. Zammit), K. Vella Petroni (K. Montanaro), J. Agius, D. Nwoke, D. Gatt (J. Galea).

Mqabba: R. Cini, R. Farrugia, D. Micallef, S. Callus, L. Grech (O. Lombardi), M. Gauci, M. Cocks (M. Briffa), J. Scicluna, M. Camilleri, J.P. Muscat, I. Chibueze.

Referee: Mark Spiteri.

Gera goal enough for Senglea

Senglea Athletic 1
St Patrick 0

An early Anthony Gera goal was enough for Senglea to beat St Patrick and join Balzan Youths in second place as the race for promotion seems to be locked between three teams. It was a clinical performance from the Cottonera outfit, who defended their slender advantage with a hard-working display throughout.

St Patrick sorely missed the flair of striker Gilbert Scerri, who is sidelined with a knee injury. They lacked punch up front and despite dictating play for most of the match they were found wanting in attack.

Senglea had a flying start and after only two minutes they forged ahead when Gera's flick surprised St Patrick goalkeeper Alex Camilleri.

Dragomir Draganov could have increase Senglea's lead on 13 minutes but his powerful drive this time found Camilleri on the right spot to turn away the shot.

St Patrick almost equalised four minutes later but goalkeeper Elvin Attard palmed away a Gordon Failla header from a Michael Zerafa free-kick.

The Saints continued to press forward and on 28 minutes they were again denied by another fine Attard save on a Stefan Farrugia header.

Nine minutes from the break Senglea should have made it 2-0 when they had a penalty in favour after Draganov was floored in the area. However, the Bulgarian's shot from the spot hit the crossbar.

St Patrick maintained the initiative after the break but despite seeing more of the ball they rarely threatened Attard's goal.

It was Senglea who created the only chance of the period when on 59 minutes a Draganov free-kick was controlled by the unmarked Kevin Tonna but was blocked by David Gauci just before pulling the trigger.

The Saints tried desperately hard to save the match and had a significant number of corner-kicks in their favour but the solid Senglea rearguard held tight all the way.

Senglea: E. Attard, T. Ghirxi, D. Aquilina, S. Aquilina, D. Grech (J. Scerri), S. Said, A. Gera, K. Mifsud (F. Dingli), K. Tonna, D. Draganov (J. Fsadni), A. Imbroll.

St Patrick: A. Camilleri, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg (P. Mizzi), D. Gauci, A. Galea, S. Farrugia, R. Hyka, G. Failla (M. Tanti), T. Caruana, K. Bonnici (J. Tabone), S. Zerafa.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.