Għargħur 0
Gozo Fc 2

Two late goals, scored by Jason Portelli and Jeffrey Meilaq, earned the Gozitans a merited win over Għargħur, without a point after two matches.

Għargħur missed a glorious chance to take an early lead but Karl Vella Petroni shot straight at keeper Steve Sultana when all alone in front of goal.

The Gozitans soon seized the initiative with John Camilleri hitting just high over the bar and on another occasion Għargħur keeper Aquilina did well to stop Josef Buttigieg’s shot from close in.

Għargħur were more in the picture after the break, again going close through Shawn Vella and Alan Spiteri.

But, Gozo were never to be underestimated even though they had Saviour Attard red-carded on 72 minutes for retaliation.

In fact, nine minutes from time they opened the score from a penalty awarded for a foul on Anthony Portelli and converted by Jason Portelli. Then, deep into stoppage time Jeffrey Meilaq made it 2-0 following a good move by Camilleri.

Victory saw Gozo moving top along with Rabat and St Andrew’s, all on the four-point mark.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, C. Zammit, M. Mercieca, D. Borg, R. Debattista, E. Lapira (D. Musu), R. Southward (J. Galea), A. Spiteri (C. Vella), S. Vella, K. Vella Petroni, D. Galea.

Gozo: S. Sultana, P. Buttigieg, M. Formosa (O. Farrugia), D. Farrugia, J. Meilaq, S. Attard, B. Meilaq (A. Portelli), C. Hili (R. Grech), J. Camilleri, J. Portelli, J. Buttigieg.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Gżira United 2
Senglea Athletic 0

This was a fine performance from Gżira who outplayed Senglea for long stretches in a match which saw both teams finish with ten men.

Gżira showed the better football early on with efforts from Richard Attard and Keith Bonello failing to hit the target. But, the Maroons drew first blood on 14 minutes when Thane Micallef tapped in past keeper George Attard.

Timothy Thomas failed to make contact with Darren Attard’s free-kick for Senglea and just before the interval, a Brady Zerafa free-kick almost had the better of the Gżira keeper.

But, Gżira remained in control and on 50 minutes Alessandro Pirrone headed the ball past Attard to make it 2-0.

They looked cruising to a deserved victory but their day was marred 15 minutes from time when James Tabone was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

However, Senglea suffered the same fate soon after when Howard Hughes was given marching orders following a second yellow card.

Gżira: K. Camilleri, A. White, H. Gatt Bonello, J. Tabone, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Felice, M. Mifsud (M. Sultana) K. Bonello, R. Attard (H. Rababah), A. Pirrone (S. Gatt), T. Micallef.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Zahra, S. Cassar, H. Hughes, E. Azzopardi, O. Ellul, B. Zerafa (C. Borg), A. Sciortino, D. Grech (J. Abela), B. Dalli (G. Brincat), T. Thomas.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Lija Athletic 2
St Andrew’s 2

This was a just outcome to a match that saw Lija holding the initiative in the first half and St Andrew’s coming back strongly after the interval.

Lija only took four minutes to open the score when Andre Scicluna finished off a good move by Luka Desira Buttigieg.

The Saints hit back though and drew level on 20 minutes through Michael Grima.

However, six minutes later Lija regained the lead thanks to a well-taken goal by veteran Michael Mangion who hit in from close range.

St Andrew’s dictated the run of play at the start of the second half and on 50 minutes Anatole Debono hit just over from the edge of the area.

The Saints should have drawn level on the hour but Andrew Amato failed to score from an inviting position.

However, the Saints were were not to be denied and nine minutes from time they were back on level terms when Neil Chetcuti headed in from a corner.

Lija: L. Bonnici, L. Lagana (D. Cremona), M. Mangion, D. Scerri, L. Desira Buttigieg, K. Darmanin, T. Saliba, H. Schembri (D. Mizzi), A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar (A. Spiteri), B. Antignolo.

St Andrew’s: R. Gauci, A. Camilleri Kamsky (J. Briscoe White), N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, D. Cuschieri, A. Debono, A. Amato, M. Ellul (N. Vella Petroni), M. Calleja, M. Grima, J. Bugeja (G. Fenech).

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Mellieħa 2
Rabat Ajax 2

Mellieħa chalked up their first point in the league after sharing the spoils with Rabat Ajax who moved joint top on four points.

Wayne Borg St John put Mellieħa in front after seven minutes after a perfect ball from Reuben Vella.

Borg St John then had a free-kick stopped with difficulty by keeper Jonathan Azzopardi with the Magpies responding through a David Azzopardi shot that brought the best out of James Abela.

The match was lively as Ibrahim Tarek and Rio Micallef could have doubled the score for Mellieħa. Rabat were coming more into the picture and three minutes from the restart they drew level when Adam Smeir took advantage from an indecision by Abela.

Rabat kept pushing forward. A header by Darren Galea was saved by Abela but at the other end Borg St John, after missing a sitter, put Mellieħa back in front when he headed home a William Borg centre.

Rabat did not give up though and it became two-all nine minutes later from a Christopher Schembri penalty.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Abela, A. Portelli, M. Vella, L. Cauchi, K. Gauci, R. Micallef (J. Gauci) R. Vella, P. Camilleri (W. Borg), W. Borg St John, I. Tarek (J. Vella).

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, A. Mifsud, K. Said (R. Micallef), A. Smeir, D. Galea (A. Zahra), M. Micallef (E. Muscat), J. Cassar, D. Azzopardi.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.