Melita 1
Senglea Athletic 3
Senglea Athletic turned in a fine performance to secure their second straight win after beating Melita 3-1 at the Tedesco Stadium.
After dominating the first half, Senglea, who were promoted to Division One last season, pulled out all the stops in the second period but were still strong enough to see off Melita who suffered their first defeat this term.
The Yellow-Reds forged ahead in the first notable attack, Miguel Ciantar tapping in from close range after reaching Audgustine James Obaje’s teasing cross.
Senglea doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Nigerian striker Obaje slotted the ball home following a melee in the Melita box.
It was all Senglea in these early stages. They came close to a third goal on 26 minutes but Abubaker Bello-Osagie’s effort, from Obaje’s cross, was saved by Melita goalkeeper Jean Claude Debattista.
After this chance, most of the action was confined to the middle of the park with Senglea threatening again just before the break but Ciantar’s low drive just missed the target.
Melita were a different team after the half-time break. Their improvement produced instant rewards as, on 52 minutes, the Amateurs reduced the arrears thanks to Jean Pierre Attard who headed home after being set up by Ivan Tufegdzic from Mennini Righini’s free-kick.
Senglea responded on 70 minutes. Obaje sprinted down the right flank and ran into the penalty area but he shot against the side-netting.
The same player was thwarted by Debattista four minutes later as the Melita keeper saved Obaje’s strike from just inside the area.
In the dying stages, Melita tried to force an equaliser by floating balls into the box but the Senglea rearguard never gave away an inch.
Edgar Degabriele’s side put the game to bed a minute into stoppage time when Obaje stabbed the ball home from close in after connecting with Pablo Doffo’s measured pass.
Melita: J.C. Debattista, N. Micallef, E. Cornago (F. Guihard), I. Tufegdzic, L. Bianco, M. Fenech, D. Cachia (G. Schranz), A. Borg Olivier, A. Attard (L. Busuttil), J.P. Attard, F. Mennini Righini.
Senglea: J. Farrugia, R. Vella (B. Zerafa), D. Sammut, J. Farrugia, J. Obaje, P. Doffo, H. Vella, M. Ciantar, A. Bello-Osagie, K. Tanti (F. Guzman), C. Cassar.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele.
Man of the match: Audgustine James Obaje (Senglea Athletic).
Summaries
Lija Athletic 1
Rabat Ajax 2
Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Giordimaina, P. Babic (J.G. Vidal), E. Beu, L. Schembri, M. Borg, M. Clinch, A. Caruana, P. Borg, A. Ige, A. Borg.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, W. Borg (B. Micallef), C. Vella (Z. Tanti), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, F. Azzopardi (L. Cauchi), D. Azzopardi.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Scorers: Chiedozie (R) 25; Beu (L) 42 pen; Azzopardi (R) 75.
Man of the match: Adam Smeir (Rabat Ajax).
Ħamrun Spartans 4
San Ġwann 3
Ħamrun: F. Tabone, G. Azzopardi, L. Grech, M.A. Borg, M. Hrubsa, J. Grech, R. Spiteri, A. Tabone, S. Nanapere (M. Muchardi), R. Refalo, H. Garba.
San Ġwann: M. Grech, Z. Bowman, J. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, J. Briffa, N. Muscat (C. Cuschieri), A. Borg, J. Cutajar, S. Vella (A. Cachia), J.Tanti, F. Okon Udoh.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Scorers: Tabone (Ħ) 29, 42 pen; Garba (Ħ) 50, 77; Okon (SĠ) 69, 72; Vella (SĠ) 76.
Man of the match: Alan Tabone (Ħamrun Spartans).
Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Vittoriosa Stars 0
Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, R. Bakare, K. Vella, G. McKay, K. Borg (C. Pace), A. Catania, S. Hili (D. Tabone), K. Zammit (R. Spiteri), M. Gauci, L. Galea, D. Pereira Fernando.
Vittoriosa: K. Magri, R. Previ (D. Fava), C. Spiteri (C. Newuche), P. Mrvic. A. Galea, S. Grech, M. Barbara (L. Gauci), M. Lukic, S. Meilaq, M. Camilleri, M. Milivojev.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Scorers: Pace 74; Bakare 90.
Red card: Milivojev (VS) 75.
Man of the match: Raimi Bakere (Żebbuġ Rangers).
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Senglea | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Gżira United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Rabat Ajax | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Żebbuġ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Fgura United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Gudja United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Pietà | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| St George’s | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Melita | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ħamrun | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| San Ġwann | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Lija | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Vittoriosa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mqabba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |