Xaghra United 3
Xewkija Tigers 4

Xewkija Tigers moved two points clear at the top of Division One after a hard-fought win over Xaghra.

The seven-goal thriller went Xewkija's way mainly due to the prolific goalscoring of striking duo Udo Nwoko, of Nigeria, and Cameroon's Thierry Tazemeta. These two forwards were in top form last weekend and gave the Xaghra rearguard some torrid time.

Xaghra did offer a stiff challenge, especially late in the match, and had they been more lucky they could have taken a point from this match.

Xewkija took command of play from the early stages and in the second minute Tazemeta had a close-range attempt blocked by goalkeeper Gauci.

But, it was Xaghra who opened the score in their first attack. Josef Galea was quick on a Bezerra cross, his first attempt was blocked but he made no mistake from the rebound.

Xewkija almost drew level a minute later when Tazemeta had an effort hitting the bar. Luck was not with Xewkija and two minutes later a Jason Portelli drive again hit the woodwork. Bartolo then cleared Tazemeta's shot off the line.

Xaghra were also close in the 17th-minute when Olalekan's fierce drive hit the bar. In this action, Xewkija players Sabri Rais and Lawrence Attard hit each other in an attempt to clear the danger and play was stopped for several minutes as both players received treatment.

In the 33rd minute, an effort by substitute Christian Bugeja was well saved by Gauci, but Xewkija's pressure was finally rewarded in the 42nd minute.

Tazemeta was floored in the area, the referee awarded a penalty and the Xewkija striker converted.

The Tigers kept pressing forward and in stoppage time Martin Cremona's free-kick was headed by Mark Camilleri towards Nwoko who ably scored with a rasping shot.

After the break, Xewkija held the initiative and quickly added two more goals through Tazemeta.

The Cameroon player first rifled home into the Xaghra net in the 53rd minute before completing his hat-trick five minutes later.

In the 55th minute, Olalekan pulled one back for the battling Xaghra team and three minutes from time the same player put Xaghra a goal behind, 3-4, to set up a dramatic finale.

In time added on it was goalkeeper Xuereb who saved the result for Xewkija with two fine saves on Galea and Bezerra. Xaghra also had penalty claims turned down after Benneth Njoku was sent tumbling in the opponents' box.

Victoria Hotspurs 0
Kercem Ajax 2

Kercem Ajax chalked up their third league win of the season to move up to third in the standings at the end of the first round.

The Ajax fully deserved the points. They were the more enterprising side as Victoria keeper Gafa struggled to find his form.

The match turned out to be a balanced affair with neither side managing to take control of proceedings at first. Kercem then started to threaten the Victoria goal and had good chances to open the score through Gotthard Conti, Elton Vella and Mark Marlow.

Victoria's response arrived at the end of the half with a Sunday Eboh shot that finished just over.

Three minutes into the second half, Kercem goalkeeper Aktpan kept out a Reuben Mercieca free-kick.

The Ajax took the lead in the 53rd minute when Vella's cross picked out Conti whose volley passed under the body of Gafa and into the net.

Here, one expected a reaction from Victoria but they only threatened with a Nenad Veselji shot that failed to trouble Aktpan.

Instead, it was Kercem who made sure of the points in the 84th minute. In a fast break, Conti created some space for himself before slotting the ball past the helpless Gafa.